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T O
E D WARD P Of HAM, Efq;
,.::oj! ,
LITTLECOT in the County
of W I L T S.
H E benefits accruing to
literature from the pa-
tronage of great and ju-
dicious perfons, has generally been
deemed a fufficient excufe for ad-
A i dreffes
iv DEDICATION.
* '■*■•_
dreflea of this natjar© ; but however
plaufibl© fuch4li realbn might feem,
the editor of the following piece had
w ■•
foTbornetfi^ ^Vjail himfelf of it, or to
■ ' ■ ' - . •• - - .">
requeft the patronage of fo difcern-
ing a judgC:;.a8,-.j?wrfelj^;,if he had
t • • • ' T • •• *• • •• •
not hoped that iiis'^iSfuttiption would
have carried its ^pyi^'^iiQlogy with it,
and been confcious that, while he
was foliciting Mr. Pophamh pro-
I.'
tedion for fb valuable a work as the
Complete Angler y he was at once in-
dulging his curiofity, and gratifying
nis benevolence.
How
DEDICATION. v
How far this virtue of your's has
hitherto been extended towards thofe
for whofe inflrudion and delight
the book was originally written, no
one, who has ever feen the waters of
Chiltovj or heard with what care and
expence they are prefer ved,. can be
ignorant. And, as this Iblicltudo,
for the mere amufement of anglers,
a very fmall and inconiiderable part
of mankind, is a peculiar ftraln of
beneficence, fo it affords a probable
ground to hope, that a tr^itife on
the art itfelf, written with fo much
A 3 judg-
vi 6EDicAf ion;
judgment and ingenuity, and con-
taming fucn abundant iriftru^ion
and innocent cntertdnment as this
does, can hardly fail of a favourably
r^eption. •
Next to the fatisfadtion of having
reftored to the world fo valuable a
worfc, and having performed for Mr.
TValton^ an office he had frequently
fb well difcharged for others, and
which, for the hbnour of his me^
mory, I could wifli had been
undertaken by Ibme abler hand, I
feel none greater, than the occafion
it
DEDICATION, vii
k now gives me, of teftifying my
gratitude, for the obligations I have
received from you, and, of iiib
fcribing myfelf.
Tour mojl obedient Servant^
TwdtaAamf
IG^JfrU^ 1760.
John Hawkins,
A 4 ADVER-
• *
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a a c
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[ixl
Hm
ADVERTISEMENT.
nr'HE Complete Angler lutvtt^
. i^en written fi long ag> as 1653, aU
^ughtbe Ut/i publication thereof, in the life-'
tme of the authors^ 'was in 1676, contains
many particulars of perfons, n<no but little
known t and frequent allufions to faSts^ and
even modes of living, the memory whereof is
in a great meafure obliterated: a new edition
therefore feemed to require a retrofpeSl to the
time when the authors lived; an explanation
^ Pf fuch paffages, as an interval of more than
an hundred years had necefarily rendered ob^
/cure J together witbfucB improvements in the
art ftfelfy as the accumulated experience of
fuccefding times has enabled us tofumifh.
An edition t undertaken with this view, is
now attempted, and in a way, it is to be hoped,
f)atm^ pnfe again introduce the authors to
the
1
the acquaintance of perfons of learning and
judgment.
All that the editor requejls in return for the
faifts: be has t 4km is, tbat tb^ r^dtr ^ilt do
kitn tbejujlice to believe^ that bis only motives
Jor the republication of this work^ v^ere a 4f*
^ to petpetuate the memory (f a meik^ henevo^
knty pious many and to eontrikutejbnfetbing t9
the improvement of an art of "which he fro^^
fefes bimfelf a lover ^
»*♦
THE
LIFE
OF
Mr. Isaac Walton.
) H E excellent Lord Verulam has
? noted it, as one of the great de-
£ fictencies of biographical hiftory,
> that it is, for the mofl part, con-
fined to the actions of kings, princes, and
great pcrfonages, who are neccffjrily few j
while the memory of Icfs confpicuous,
though good men, has been no better prc-
ferved than by vague reports and barren
clogies *.
It is not therefore to be wondered at, if
little carehas been taken toperpetuate the re-
membrance of the peribn who is the fubjeft
of the prefent enquiry j and, indeed, thero
are many circumltances that feem to account
• Di Augmtnui Sdcniiarum,
for
' [ xii J -• ^ ^
for. fucli an omiflion; for neither was be
diftingui(hcd by his rank, or eminent for his
learning, or remarkable for the performance
of any publick fervice; but, as he ever
afted:cd a retired life, fo was he noted only
for an ingenious humble good man.
However, to fo eminent a degree did he. •
poffefe the qualities above afcribed to him, as
to afford a very juftifiable reafon for endea-
vouring to imprefs upon the minds of man-
kind, by a colledtionof many fcatfcrod paf-
fages concerning him, a due fenfe of their
'value and importance, *
. IfaaCy or, as he ufed to write it, Izaak
Walton^ w^S'hovmt Staj^hrd, in the month
of Auguft 1593*. The Oxford Antiquary,
who has thus fixed the place and year of
bis nativity, has Ipft us no memorials of
his family, nor even hinted where or how
he was* educated ; but has only told us^
that before the year 1643, ^^//(?« was
fettled, and followed the tradeof a Sempjer
in London -f*.
From his own writings then it muft be,
that the circumftances attending his life
muft, in a great meafure come ; and, as oc-
i
* He has often been confounded with Dr. Br}an
Walton^ the learned publifhfer of the P^i^^^/ Bible;
idio was a native of Yorkfinre^ and born icvcn year*
after Ifaac.
t Athen, Oxon. Vol. I. Col. 305. .
cafions
r
[ 3fm ]
oafions offer, a proper ufc will be made of
them ; nevcrthelcfs a due regard will be paid
to fome traxlitional memoirs, which» be-»
fides that they contain nothing improbable^
the authority of thofc to whom we ftand in-
debted for them, will not allow us to queC*
tion.
His firft fettlemeot in London, as a (hop-
keeper, was in the Royal Bur/e in Cornhitt,
built by Sir Thomas Gre/ham, and finifhed in
i6i6 ^; and as in the year 1624, as wilt
hereafter appear, he was fixed in a different
part of the city, we may reafonably fuppofc
he was one of the firft inhabitants of the
Burje-y and being then but 23, was perhaps
oneof thofe induflrious young men, whom,
as we are told, the munificent founder him-
ielf placed in the (hops crefted over that
edifice.
In this (ituation he could fcarcely be fald
•to have elbow-room ; for the fhops over the
Burfe were but feven feet long, and five
wide -f" ; yet here did he carry on his trade
till fome time before the year 1624; when ;};
•* he dwch on the north fide of Fleet-Jlrcet^
** in a houfe two doors weft of the end of
** Chancery 'lane y and abutting on a mc;-
^* (uage known by the (ign of the llarrovj C
* IVard'i life of Sir Thomas Grejham^ p. 12.
t I^'id.
X Ex vet, Autcgraph. penei me.
nov
{ m ]
novr the old timber-houfc at the foUth*
weft corner of Cbancery-^lane, "in Fket^
firett^ till within thefe few years, was
known by that iign : 'tis therefore beyond
doubt th at ^^//^;i lived at the very next door,
and in this houfe, he is, in the deed above
referred to, which bears date i6z4, faid to
have followed the trade of a Linen- Draper.
It further appears by that deed, that thb
houfe was in the joint occupation of Ifaac
Waltony and ^ohn Mafoiiy hofier, froai
whence we may conclude, that half a fhop
was fufficient for the bufinefs of Walton.
A citizen of this age would almoft as much
difdain to admit of a tenant for half his
fhop, as a knight would to ride double \
though the brethren of one of the moft an-
cient orders in the world were fo little above
this pradice, that their common feal was the
device of two riding on one horfe *• h more
than gradual deviation from that pariixnomM
ous charader, of which this i& a ludicrous
inftance, haftenedthe grandeur and declen-*'
Hon of that fet of men } and it is to be hoped,
the vaft increafe of the trade of this country,
and an almoft inevitable averfioa from the
• The ICnights Templars. AjhmoU\ Inftitut. of
the order of the garter, p. 55. See a reprefcntation
of the feal at the end gf Matt^ Paris^ Hift. Anglicana,
edit. 1640.
friigal
frugal tninners of our forefather6| may aof
be produdtive of iimilar confequencea.
It would, perhaps^ bcinjufttce toinfcr from
the particular above-men tioned^ that thetrad^
of fFaiidn was fmalU or his circumftancea
narrow ; the reader is enabled to account for
this example of bis <£conomy ^ befides, that
the extenfi?enefsof hisacquaintance, and the
fortune he left, forbid fuch a fuppoittion.
Ten years after, we find him living in
Cbancery^lane j ibcrc he cacried on the bii-
finefs of a Sempjier * or Milliner j a particu-
lar from which we may infer, that he was,
by this time, if not long before, married >
belides that, he was now turned of forty.
This houfe belonged to the owner of the
former, and it is fuppofcd was but a few
4pors up the lane, on the left hand.
About 1643 he left London^ and with i
fortune very far fliort of what would now be
called a competency -f-, fcems to have retired
altogether from bufinefs ; at which time (to
• afe the words of IVood) " finding it dange-
** rous for boneft men to be there, he left
that city, and lived fometimes at Stafford.
and elfewhere 1 but moftly in the families
of the eminent clergymen of England^ oi
*^ whom he was much beloved J/'
* Ex veU Autograph, penes me^
+ See his will at the end of the life*.
% Athtn. O^on* Vol*. I, OA<f 305.
Whik
% While hfe continued in London i his favcw-
rite amtifement W£ls angling, in which hc5
was the greateft ptoficicnt df his time ; and
indeed^ fo great were his fkill and experience
in that art, that there is fcarce any writer oil ''
the fubjc<a finfce his time, who has not made
the rules and praSice of Walton his very
foundation; It is therefore with the greateft
propriety, that Langbaine calls him •* the
** common father of all -anglers *."
The river that he feems rhoftly to have
frequented for this diverfion, was the Lea^
which has its fource above ^^^r^ in Hertford-
Jhirey and faJls into the Thames a little below
Blackwall -f- ; unlefs we will fuppofe ^ that
the vicinity of the New-River J to the place
of his habitation, might fometimes tempt
him out with his friends, honeft Nat^ and'
R. Roe^ whofe lofs he fo pathetically men-
tions ||, to fpend an afternoon there.
Living while he was in London^ in the
parifh of St. Dunjlan in the weft, whereof
Dr. "John Donne^ dean of St, PauPs, was
* Liv€s of the EngUJh dramatick poets. Art. Cha,
Cottorty EFq;
t See Page 274.
X That great work, the brrnging water from Chad-^
^^well and Amwell^ in Hertfordjhire^ to London^ by means
of the trench called the New-River ^ was compleated
on Michaelmas-Day^ 1613. Siowis Surv. iol. 1633.
p. 12.
II Preface to CompUtrJffghr*
vicar.
[ ^Wi ]
vicar, be became intimately acquainted with
that excellent perfon *i and, upon his dcceafe
in 163 1, Sir Henry IVotton^ of whom men-
tion will be made hereafter, requefled H\ilton
to colle<^ materials for a life of the dodlor,
which it feems Sir Henry had undertaken to
write *!•. But Sir Henry dying before he had
completed the life, Walton undertook it him*
felf, and in the year 1640 finifhed^ and pub*
lifhed it, with a collection of the doctor's
fermons, in Folio. As foon as the book
came out, a complete copy was fent as a pre-
feat to Walton^ by Mr. ^obn Donne the doc-
tor's fbn, afterwards dodor of laws, and one
of the blank leaves contained his lettef to
Mr. Walton ; the letter is yet extant j;, and is
a handfome and grateful acknowledgment of
the honour done to the memory of his father.
Dodlor Kingf afterwards bifhop of Cbi^
cbejlery in a letter to the author, tLj« ex-
prcflcs himfelf concerning this life : ♦• I am
'' glad that the general demonftration of his
*• (Dr. Donne's) worth was fo fairly prc-
•' fcrved and reprefented to the world by
** your pen, in the hiftory of his life s indeed,
* Introd. to Dr. Donne s life.
+ Sec Rellqula fP^ottoniaH^y 0£lavo^ 1695. p. 360.
"X i^ Peck*s Dtftderata Cur Ufa y v ol. I. Lib. VI.
pag. 24. In the year 17 r4, the very book, with the
origin.iI manufcript letter, was in the hands of the
Rev. Mr. Borradale^ reftor of Market -Deeping^ in
the county of Lincoln.
a ** fo
[ xviii J
*• fo well, that befide others, the beft cntick
" of our later time, Mr. Join Hales of-
" Eaton^ affirmed to me, he had not feen
** a life written with more advantage to the
" fubjeift, or reputation to the writer, thari
«^ that of Dodtor Donne */'
Sir Henry Wotton dying in 1639, Waltoh
was importuned by bifhop King %o under-
take the writing his life ; and, as it (hould
feem, by a circumftance mentioned in the
margin, it was finifhed about 1 644 -j*. Not-
Withftanding which, the earlieft copy I have
yet been able to meet with, is that pre**
fixed to a colledlion of Sir Henrys remains,,
undoubtedly made by Walton himkMy inti-
tied, Reliquiae Wottonianae^ and by him, in
1651, dedicated to lady Mary Wotton, and
her three daughters 1 though in a fubfequeni
edition in 1685, he has recommended thenv
to the patronage of a more remote relation?
of the author, namely, Philip earl of Chef-^
terjield.
The precepts of angHng, till Waltotii
time, having hardly ever been reduced td
* Bifhop King% letter to Walton beibre the collec-
tion of the Lives, in 1675,.
f It is certain that Hooker^ life was written in 1.664.
hn& Walton fays, in his epifUe before the edition of the
Lives, in 1675, that " there was an interval of twentj?
^' years between the writing of Hdoker*s life and Wot^
*' /<?»'s,. which fixes the date of the latter to- 1644/*'
writing,.
[xix]
Writing, Were propagated from age to agd
chiefly by tradition; but H^a/tM, whofe
benevolent and communicative temper ap*
pears in every line of his writings^ unwilling
to conceal from the world thofe aififtancca
which his long praflice and experience en*
abled him> perhaps the heft of any man of
his time to give, in the year 16539 pub-
lifhed, in a very c;^egant manner, his Complete
Angler, or Contemplative Mans Recreation,
in fmall Duodecimo, adorned with exquifite
cuts of mod of the fiOi mentioned in it*
The art! ft who engraved them, has been (o
jnodeft as to conceal his name ; but there is
great reafbn to fuppofe they are the work of
Lombarty who is mentioned in the Sculptura
of Mr. Evelyn.
And let no man imagine, that a work oa
fuch a fttbjedt muft neceflarily be unenter-
taining, or trifling, or even uninftrudtive ;
for the contrary will moft evidently appear^
from a perufal of this excellent piece, which »
whether we conGder the elegant fimplicity
of the ftyle, the eafe and unaffeded humour
of the dialogue, the lovely fcenes which it
delineates, the enchanting pafloral poetry
which it contains, or the flne morality it fb
fweetly inculcates, has hardly its fellow in
any of the modern languages.
The truth is^ that there are few fubjefts
fo barren as not to afibrd matter of delight^
a 2 and
t^3
an d even of inftruftion, if ingenioufly treat-
ed : Montafgnehzswriittnzn effayon Coaches ^
and another on thumbs ; and our own nation
has produced many men, who, from a pe-
culiar felicity in their turn of thinking, and
manner of writing, have adorned, and even
dignified, themes the moft dry and unpro-
mifing'. Many would think that time ill
employed, which was fpent in compofing a
treatife on the art o( /hooting in the long bow^
and how few lovers of horticulture would
cxped: entertainment from a difcourfe of Sal-
lads ? and yet the Toxophilusoi Roger Afcbamp
and the Acetaria of Mr. Evelyn^ have been
admired and commended by the beft judges
of literature *.
But that the reader may judge for himfelf,
how much our author has contributed to
the improvement of pifcatory fcience, and
how far his work may be faid to be an ori •
ginal, it will be neceflary for him to take ar
view of the ftate of angling at the time when
he wrote ; and that he may be the better
able to do this, he will confider, that, till
the time of the reformation, although the
clergy, as well regular as fecular, on ac«
count of their leifure, and becaufe die canon
law forbad them the ufe of the fanguinary
♦ Biograph. Britan. Ascham, 214. Note B.
EyEi*YN, I-865*
recrc-
[xxi]
recreations of hnntingt hawking^ and fowl-
ing, were the great proficients in anglings
yet none of its precepts were committed to
writing ; and that, from the time of the in*
trodudtion of printing into this kingdom^
to that of the firft publication of WaUori%
book^ in 1653, an interval of more than one
hundred and fifty years, only four bocks on
this fubjedt had been given to the world :
of the three laft fome mention is made in
the margin * ; but the firft of that number,
as well on account of its quaintnefs as an-
tiquity, and bccaufe it is not a little charac-
tcriftick of the age when it was written,
deferves to be particularly diflinguiOied.
This traft, intitled, T^be Treatyfe ofFypjynge
wytb an Angle^ makes part of a book,
known to the cvripus in typographical an-
* A hook of Fijbirtg with hook and line^ and all othfr
inflrumenti thereunto belongings printed in the year 1 590,
ai^d afterwards in 1596, and 1606. ,
Approved experiments touching Fijh and Fruity to bf
regarded by the lovers of Anglings by Mr. John Taverner^
in Quarto, 1600.
The Secrets of Anglings a poem, in three bookj, by y^
y. D. Ef<j; Oftavo, 1613. Mention is made of this J- -^
Doo^, pag. 1 501 of the en luing dialogues. There is ^'^^
great room to imagine that it is the foundation of a ^^ 1
tr^atiftp, jntjtled, ne whole Art of Anglings publifhed in /m^
Quarto 1656, by the well-known Qervafe Markham^ M- /3
as part of -hi$ Country Contentments ^ or Hufbandmarf s eJl A -
Recreations ; fince he confefles, that the fubftance of
his book was originally in rbime. OiMarkham\ book
^ fpccimcn is given in a note on page aa.
a 3 tiquitiesi
[ xxil ]
tiquities, hy the title of, T&e Book df St,
Alban's. Enpryhted at Wefimejire by Wynkyn
deWorde^ \\()t^ in a fmall Folio j the book
confifts of a treatife on hawking, another
on hunting, which is all in verfe; a book
wherein is dietermined the Lygnage of Cote
armureSf the above-mentioned treatife of
filhing, and the Method of Blafynge of
armes.
This book was written by Daoie Julyans
Bernes, priorefs of the nunnery of Sopwell^
near St. Albans j a lady of a noble family,
and celebrated for her learning and ac-
complifjiments, by Leland^ Bak, Pits, and
others ; and the reafqn for her publi(hing it,
in the manner it appears in, (he gives us ia
the following words ; *^ And for by caufg
that this prefent treatyfc fholde not come
to the hondys of eche ydle perfone whyche
wolde defire it, yf it were enprynted
*' allone by itfelf, and put in a lytyll
^' plaunflet ; therefore I have compylyd it
^^ in a greter volume, of diverfe bokys^^
^* concernynge to gentyll and noble men,
f* to the entent that the forfayd ydle per-
^^ fones whyche fliolde have but lytyll me-?
*' fure in the fayd dyfporte of fyfshynge,
^* fliolde not by th}s meane utterly dy-?
^^ ftroye it/'
And as to the treatife itfelf, it begins with
g cpmparifoi> of fi(hing, with the diver-
iions
I xxiii ]
£ons Apf hanting, hawking, and fowling^
which Ihe authorefs (hews, are attended with
great inconveniencies and difappointments :
whereas in fifhing, if his fport fail him,
the Angler, fays £he, atte the Iced hath
his holfom waike, and mery at his eafe,
a fwete ayre of the fwete favoure of the
meede floures, that maky th him hungry ;
he hereth the melodyous armony 6f
fowles; he feeth the yonge fwanncs,
^ heerons, duckes, cotes, and many other
fowles, wyth theyr brodcs; whyche to mc
femyth better than all the noyfe of
houndys, the blades of hornys, and the
fcryc of foulis, that hunters, fawkcners
and foulers can make. And if the Angler
f' take fyfshe, furely then is there noo man
" merier than he is in his fpyryte."
At the beginning of the diredions, how
the angler is to make his harnays, or tackle,
he is thus inftrufted to provide a rod : " And
how ye Aall make your rodde craftly,
here I ihall teach you. Ye fliall kytte
betwene Myghelmas and Candylmas, a
fayr (laffe, of a fadom and an halfe longe,
and arme grete of hafyll, willowe, or
afpe ; and bethe hym in an hote ovy n, and
fette hym evyn ; thenne Ictc hym cole
and dryc a moneth. Take thenne and
frette hym fade wyth a cockefliote corde,
a 4 " and
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[ XXIV ]
and bynde hym to a foarme, or an evyn
fquare gretc tree. Take thenne a plum-
mer's wire, that is even and ftreyte, agd
^^ fharpe at the one ende; and hete the
** fliarpe ende in a charcole fire tyll it be
** whyte, and brcnnc the ftafFe therwyth
** thorough, ever ftreyte in the pythe at
** bothe cndes tyll they nicte 2 and after
^* that brenne him in the nether end wyth
*^ a byrde broche, and wyth other broches^
eche grettcr than other> and ever the
grettcft the lafte ; (o that ye make your
hole aye tapre were : thenne Icte hyni
lye ftyll, and kele two days, unfette hym
thenne, and lete hym drye in an houfe
roof, in the fmoke tyll he be thrugh drye ;
in the fame feafon take a fayr yerde of
grene hafyll, and beth him even and
*^ ftreyghte, and lete it drye with the ftaffe ;
" and whan they ben drye, make the yerde
*' mete unto the hole in the ftafFe unto halfe
** the length of the ftafFe ; and to perfourme
** that other halfe of the croppe, take a
^^ fayr (bote of blacke thornn, crabbe tree,
medeler, or of jenypre, kytte in the fame
feafon, and well bethyd and ftreyghte,
^* and frette them togyder fetcly, foo that
" the croppe may juftly entre all into the
** fayd hole ; thenne fhave your ftafFe, and
*^ make hym tapre wexerthcn vyrell the
' '' ftaf(?
€t
€i
€t
it
cc
I
cc
[ 3fX? ]
'^ ftaffe at bothe endes with long hopis of
^' yren^ or laton, in the clenneft wife, wy th
*' a Pyke in the nether ende, faftnyd with a
rennynge vyce^ to take in and out your
croppe ; thenne fet your croppe an hand-
^' full within th« over ende of your ftaffe, in
*' fuche wife that it be as bigge there as in
^' ony other place above : thenne arme your
'^ croppe at thouer ende, downe to the frette,
'^ with a line of vj heeres^ and dubble the
<* lyne, and frette it fade in the toppe wyth
^ a bowe to faften on your lynes and thus
f^ (hall ye make you a rodde foo prevy, that
ye may walk therwyth ; and there (hall
noo man wyte where abowte ye goo/'
Speaking of the Barbel (lie fays : ** The
*^ Barbyll is a fwete fys(he; but it is a
quafy meete, and a peryllous for mannys
body. For comynly he yeuyth an intro-
" 4uxion to the febres ; and yf he be eten
^* rawe, he may be caufe of mannys dethe,
«' which hath oft be feen."
For taking the Pike» this lady directs
her readers in the following terms, viz^
'' Take a codlynge hoke, and take a
" Roche or a fres(he Heering, and a wyrc
wyth an hole in the ende, and put it in
'^ 9t the mputh^ and out at the tayllc,
" downe by the ridge of the fres(he Heer-
'* yng; and thenne put the lyne of your
^* hpkc in after, and drawe the hoke into
<* the
€t
[ XXVI ]
^ the cheke of the fresflie Heeryngj thenh
** put a plumbe of lede upon your lyne
** a yerde longe from your hoke^ and a
** flole in myd waye betwene, and cafte it
^' in a pytte where the.Pyke ufyfh : and this
^* is the belle and mooft furcft crafte of
^^ takynge the Pyke. Another manerc
^' takynge of hym there is : take a frosflie *,
** and put it on your hoke, at the necke,
** bytwene the fkynne and the body, on
" the backe half, and put on a flote a yerde
** therffo, and cafte it where the Pyke
hauntyth and ye (hall have hym. Another
mannere : Take the fame bayte, and put
*• it in afafetida, and cafl: it in the water
** wyth a corde and corke, and ye fliall not
fayl of hym. And yf ye lyfl: to have a
good fporte, thenne tye the corde to a
^' gofe ibte, and ye fliall fe god halynge,
•* whether the gofe or the Pyke (hall have
*' the better."
The diredtion for making flies, contained
in this book, are, as one would cxpefl:, very
inartificial : we fliall therefore only add, that
the authorefs advifes the angler to be pro-
vided with twelve different forts, between
wh?ch and Walton^i -f twelve, the difference
is fo very fmall, as well in the order as the
* Or Frog. M ifijh.
t Vid, CompU Angl, pzg. io6.
manner
4i
[ xxvii ]
fflanner of deferibiog them, that there cannot
remain the leaft doubt but he had feen, suid
attentively perufed» this ancient treatife.
The book concludes with fome general
cautions, among which are thefe that follow i
which at leaft ferve to (hew, how long ang*
liDg has been looked on as an auxiliary to
contemplation.
^^ Alfo^ ye (hall not ule this forfayd crafty
'' dyfporte, for no covetyfenes, to the en*
^* creafynge and fparynge of your money
" oonly, but pryncypally for your folace,
*^ and to caufe the helthe of your body» and
** fpecyally of your foule : for whanne ye
^< purpoos to goo on your dyi)>ortes in fyf-
'* (hyng, ye woU not defyre gretly many
'' perfones wyth you, whiche myghte lette
^< you of your game. And thenne ye may
" ferve God devowtly in faycnge afFeftu-
^' oufly youre cuftumable prayer ; and thus
^^ doynge ye (ball efchewe and voide many
^* vices/'
But to return to the laft-mentloned work
of our author. The Complete Angler ; it came
into the world attended with laudatory
verfes by feveral writers of that day^ and had
in the title-page, though Walton thought
proper to omit it in the future editions^ this
^ppofite motto :
•* SlMOM
XXVIU J
J^ AJiLVIU J
** SrMON Peter faid, I go a fifliingi
. *' and they faid, we alfo will go with
*« thee/' *y^i6« xxi. i.
MMM •M^^J .w^, w, ^
thee/' y^i6« xxi.
What reception in general the book met
withy may be naturally inferred from the
dates of the fubfequent editions thereof;
the fecond I have never been able to fee, but .
the third came abroad about 1660, and a
fourth in i668. It is pleafing to trace the
feveral . variations which the author, from
time to time, made in thofe fubfequent edi-.
tions, as well by adding new fads a|nd dif-
coveries, as enlarging on the more enter-* ^
taining parts of the dialogue : and fo far did
he indulge himfelf in this method of im^*
provement^ that the third and fourth edi-
tions of his book have feveral entire new -
chapters ; and the fifth, the laft of the edi-
tions publiihed in his life-tinie, contains no
lefs than eight chapters more than the firft,
and twenty pages more than the fourth.
Nor did the reputation of the Complete
Angler fubfift only in the opinions of thofe
for whofe ufe it was more peculiarly calcu-f
lated, but even the learned, either from the
known character of the author, or thofe in^
ternal evidences of judgment and veracity
contained in it, coqfidered it as a work pf
merit, and for various purpofes referred to
its authority ; DD(3:or Thomas Fuller^ in bis
fForfAfeSf
. [ xxix ]
Worthies^ whenever he has occafion to fpeak
of fifh, ufes his very words*. Dodor Plot
in his hiftory of StaffordJfArCf has, on the
authority of our author^ related two of the
inftances of the voracity of the Pike, men*
tioned Part I. Chap. VIIF. and confirmed
them by two other iignal ones, that had
then lately fallen out in that county *(*•
And laftly, Do€tor Siinner, in his Etymologic-
cpn Lingua Anglicana^ Lond. FoL i67i.
Voce Fulimart, gives us to underftand, that
it is, Fox qua nufquam^ nifi in hibro the
Complete Angler di3o^ occurrit.
To purfue the fubjedt of his Biographical
writings; about two years after the reftoration
Walton wrote i}^^\\itoi^x ^Richard Hooker^
author of the Ecclefiajlical Polity ^ he was en*
joined to undertake this work by his friend
Dodor Gilbert Sheldon %% afterwards arch-
bishop of Canterbury ; who, by the way, was
an angler §. Bifliop Kingt in a letter to the
* Worthies of England in Birkjbire^ %i. Dorfetfl>ire'^
277. -Km/, 77-
t Hift. ox Stafford/bin J Chap. V{I. §. 37. Sec alfo
in the following fe&ion, a well-attefted account of the
taking a brace of Carp \ the one a melter thirty-three
inches long, and nineteen and a half about, weighing
fifteen pounds ; the other a fpawner, about two feet
fix inches long, and twenty and a half round, weighing
fourteen pounds ; the fcales of each being near as broad
as a half-crown piece.
X Walton*^ Epift. to the reader of the Lives, in Svo^
1675.
CompL JngL edit. 1676. pag. 211.
author.
it
4€
author *, fays of this life; ^' I have, ofttd
feen Mr. Hooker with my father, who was
after bifhop of London^ from whom, and
** others at that time, I have heard moft of
f* the material paffages which you relate in
'* thehiftoryofhislife." Sir fTil/iam Dug^
dale, fpeaking of the three pofthumous books
of the Ecclejiajikal Polity^ refers the reader
to that feafonable hiftorical difcourfe lately
compiled atid publifhed, with great judg-
ment and integrity, by that much-de-
ferving perfon, Mr. Ifaac Walton •!«." In
this life we are told, that Hooker^ while he
was at college, made a vifit to the famous
DoSor Jewel, then bifhop of Salijbury, his
good friend and patron : an account of the
biihop's behaviour, at his departure, as it
contains a lively pidlure of his fimplicity
and goodnefs, and of the plain manners of
thofe times, is given in the note %.
The
♦ Before the Lives.
t Short View of the late Troubles in England, Fol.
j68i. pag. 39.
J *« As foon as he was perfeftly recovered from this
** ficknefs, he took a journey from Oj[/iri to jG';ir;?/^r, to
** fatisfy and fee his good mother; being accompa-
^' nied with a countryman and companion of his own
<' college, and both on foot ; which was then either
•* more in fafhion, or want of money, or their humi-
^^ lity made it fo : but on foot they went, and took
♦« Salijhury in their way, purpofely to fee the good
♦* bifhop, who made Mr. Hooker and his companion
^* diw wi^h hiip at \(y% oyto ^§We ; which Mr. Hooker
h - • ;
f XXXI ]
The life of Mr. George Berierf, as it
ilands the fourth and lad in the volume
wherein that and the three fornier are col-
le£ted, feetns to have been written the next
after Hooter's : it was firft publi(hed in Duo^
decimo^ 1670. Walton profcffes himfelf m
itrangcr as to the perfon of Herbert ♦ ; and
though he aifures us his life of him was %
free-will-offering -f*, it iB no way inferior to
any of the former.
*^ boafted of with mucb joj and graticude, when hk
(aw his mother and friends. And, at the bt(hop*a
parting with him, the bifliop gave him good coui»-
^* fel, and his benedidion, but forgot to give him
^ money; which, when the bilhop had confidered^
^< he fent a fervant, in all hafte, to call Rtcbard back
^' to him ; and at Richard's return, the bifhap faid ta
•* him, Richard^ 1 fent for you back to lend you a
^^ horfe, which hath carried me many a mile, and, I
^^ thank God, with much eafe % and prefendy deli-*
^' vered into his hand a walking«ftafF, with which he
'< profefled he had travelled through many parts of
** GerTnany-y and he faid, Richard, / do not ^/w>
bui lend you my barfi : be fwre ym be bonejly and bring
my horfe back to me at your return this way to OxfoRCu
^^ And I do now give you ten groats, to bear your charges
" to Exeter ; and here is ten groats more^ xvhich I charge-
•' you to deh'ver to your mother ; and tell her^ I fend her
^* a hi/hop* s benediSlion with itj and beg the continuana
'' of her prayers for me> And if you bring my h:rfe hack
** to me, I will give you ten groats more to cat ry you ot^
** foot to the college^ andfo Godblefsyouy good Richard.*'
tralton\ Lives, pag. 163.
♦ Introd. to^ Herbert's Life.
t Epiftle toi the rcadci of the Lives.. Edit, 1675.
Two
«4
Two tJf the fe lives, viz. ihoCe 6f HotiAe^
and Herbert i we arc told, were written unddi
the roof of Walton % good friend and patron >
Dr. George Morley^ bilhop of Winchejier * i
.which particular feems to agree with Woods
account, that, " after his quitting Juondon^
'* he lived moftly in the families of the emi*-
" nent clergy of that time j" and who that
confiders the inofFenfivenefs of his manners^
and the pains he took in celebrating the lives
and adlions of good men, can doubt his be-
. iflg much beloved by them ?
' riTC/^^^ In the year 1 67 c, thefe lives were col-
*^>. leded and publREcd in fmall Oftavo, with
a dedication to the bifliop of Winchejier^
And a preface, containing the motives for
writing them 5 this preface is followed by a
^l^^ycopy of verfes, by his inlimate friend and
;/,^^^^ adopted fon -f, Charles Cotton^ oi Beresford
/ / in Staffordpire, Efq; of whom further men-
tion will hereafter be made, and the letter
from biftiop King^ fo often referred to in the
courfe of this life.
The Complete Angler having, in the fpace
of twenty-three years, gone through fouredi*
tions, Walton in the year 1676, and in th^
eighty-third of his age, was preparing a fifth,
with additions for the prefs 5 when Mr. Cot^
♦ Dedication of the Lives. Edit. 1675.
^ Compl. JngL Part II.
ton
ton wrote a fecond part of that work. It
feems Mr. Cotton fubmitted the manufcript
to fTa/ton's perufaU who returned it with
his approbation *, and a few marginal flric-
tures; and in that year they came abroad
together. Mr. Cotton's book had the title
of the Complete Angler ; iang InJlruC'-
tions bow to angle for a Trout or Grayling,
in a clear Jiream, Part II. and it has ever
iihce been received as a fecond part of H^al^
ton's book. In the title page is a cypher,
compoied of the initial letters of both their
names ; which cypher, Mr. Cotton tells us,
he had caufed to be cut in Aone, and fet up
over a fi(hing-houfe ^f*, that he had eredbed
near his dwelling, on the bank of the little
river Dove^ which divides the counties of
Stafford and Derby.
Mr.Cottons book is a judicious fupplement
to Walton's ; for it mufl not be concealed^
that Walton^ though he was fo expert an
angler, knew but little of fly^fiihing ; and
indeed he is fo ingenuous as to confefs, that
the greater part of what he has faid on that
fubjedt, was communicated to him by Mr«
Thomas Barker J, and not the refult of his
own experience. This Mr. Barker was a
good-humoured gofliping old man, and
feems to have been a cook i for he fays, ^' he
* Sec ff^alton's letter to Cottottj before the ad Part*
t CompL Angl. Part 11. Page 9,
i CmpL AngU Page xi2.
b •• had
( X3CXi<r j
V had been admitted into the mdii amtafJa-^
" dors kitchens that had come to England
** for forty years, and dreft fi(h for them /" for
which, he fays, '* he was duly paid by the
** lord protestor *." He fptetrt a great deal of
tinaCj and, it feems, money too, in fi(hing ;
and, in the htter part of his life, dwelt inr
an almfhoufe near thtGateboufe, at Wejimin-
fier^ A few years after the firft publication
of ^tf //(7«*s book, viz. in 1659, hcpubli(h-
ed a book, entitled Barker's Delight y or the
Art of Angling. And, for that fingular vein
of humour that runs through it, a moft
diverting book it is. The dedication of thid
performance to Edward, lord Montague^
general bfihe navy, is given in the mar-
gin ^ ; and the reader will meet with fome
fur**
* 'Baxter' % t>eltghi^ f agef 20.
t '* Noble Lord,
^* I do prefent this my book as I have named itj
" li(vtker*^iyeltght^X.o'^OMx\iOViO\sx. I pray God fend y^u
*' fafehom^ ia your good Iddy and fweet babes. Amen^Anun^
** If youihall find any thing delightful in the reading
•* of ity I fhall heartily rejoice ; for I know you are
** oncwho takes delight in that pleafu:re,and have good
" judgmentand experience, as manynoble perfons and
•* gentlemen of true piety and honour do and have.
•* The favour that I have found from you, and a great
** many more, that did and d6 love that pleafure, ihall
•' "never be bury'd in oblivion by me. I am now growri
*' old, and am willing to enlarge my little book. I
•* have written no more but my own experience snd
** practice j and have fet forth the true ground of apg-
*' ling.
[ XXXV ]
farther /pccimens of the author's flylc and
manner of writing in the notes on the prc-
fent edition.
But Cotton lived in a country, where fly-
fifhing was, and is, almoll the only pradice ;
ling, which I have been gathering thcfe thrccfcorc
years j having fpent many pounds in the gaining of
" it, as is well known in the place where 1 was born
•* and educated, which is Bract fiuale^ in the liberty of
*' Salop -^ being a freeman and burgefs of the fame city.
•* If anynohh or gentle angler^ of what degree fotver he be^
•* have a mind to difcowfe of any of theje ways and expe*
♦* rimentSj I live in henry the Vlith's GiftSj the next
•' door to the Gatehoufe^ in Wejlmlnjler \ my name is
'* Barker \ wherelihali be ready, as long as pleafcGod,
•^ to fatisfy them, and maintain my art during life,
'' which is not like to belong ; tljdt the younger fry
" may have my experiments at a fmallcr charge than
" I had them ; for, it would be too heavy for every
** one that loveth that exercife, to be at the charge as
•' I was at firft in my youth, -the Ids of my time,
•* with great expcnces. Therefore I took it in con-
*• fideration, and thought fit to let it be underftood,
•' and to take pains to let forth the true grounds and
•' ways that I have found, by experience, both for
•* fitting of the rods and tackles, both for ground-
" baits and flies ; with dircdions for the making
** thereof; with obfervations for times and feafons,
•' for the ground-baits and flies, both for day and
•• night, with the dreiling ; wherein I take as much
•• delight as in the taking of them ; and to (hew how
** I can perform it, to furniifh any lord's table only
** with Trouts, as it is furaifhed with flelh, for i6
•* or 20 difhes. And 1 have a defire to preferve their
•* health (with the help of God) to go dry in their
** boots and (hoes in angling *i for age takcth th«
•* pleafure from me."
• See his rccip* for this piirpofe, in the Notes oa Chap. XVII.
b 2 8^(>d
V
[ txxvi ]
and indeed, he feems to have kffown more df ,
it than moft men of his time. Not to anti-
cipate what will be found in the book, it
may be neceflary to fay, that there is great
fpirit in the dialogue j and that the fame
converfable, communicative temper appears
in it, that fo eminently diftinguiOies the
piece it accompanies.
The defcriptions of flies, with the mate-*
rials for, and different methods of making
them, though they may adimit of fome im-
provement, and accordingly the reader will
meet with feveral valuable ones in the notes
on the chapter of artificial flies, are indifpu-
tably the mod exaft and copious of all that
have ever yet been publiflied.
At the end of the fecond part, though m
this edition, it has been thought proper to
tranfpofe them, are fome verfes of Cotton's
writing, which he calls TAe Retirement^ or
Stanzes. Irreguliers : of them, and alfo of
the book, take this charadler from Lang^
ifaine : " This book is not unworthy the pe-
' " rufal of the graveft men that are lovers of
^' this innocent recreation s and thofe who
are not anglers, but have a tafte for
poetry, may find Mr. Cottons charafter
^* better defcribed by himfelf, in a copy of
5^ verfes, printed at the end of that books
*^ called The Retirement ^ than any I might
^^ orefent the reader from Col. Lovelace^ Sir
*^ AJlon Cockaine, Robert Herrick^ Efq; or
*♦ Mr.
€C
[ xxxvii ]
*^ Mr. Alexander Brome ; all which have
" writ verfes in our author's praifc ; but in
'* my poor judgment, far mort of thcfc
" Stanzes Irreguliers *."
In fliort, thefe books contain a great num-
ber of excellent rules, and valuable difcovc-
ries ; and it may, with truth be faid, that
few have ever perufed them, but have, un-
lefs it was their own fault, found themfclves
not only better anglers, but better men.
A book which ha^i been publifhed by Col.
Robert Venables^ (bme years before, called
^^Experienced Angler^ or Angling improved^
which has its merit, was alfo now reprinted,
and the bookfellers prefixed to it a general
title of the Univerfal Angler i under which
they fbmetimes fold the three, bound toge-
ther : but the book being written in a man«
ncr very different from that of the Completi
Angler^ it was not thought proper to let it
accompany the prefent edition; however,
fome ufe has been made of it in the notes.
It has a preface figned /, IV ^ u ndoubtedly of
Waltoti% writing.
Walton was now in his eighty-third year,
an age, which, to ufe his own words,
*• might have procured him a writ of eafe •f',
•^ and
♦ Lives of the Englijb dramatick Poets, Art. Cha^
C^toTij Efq;
t A difcharge from the office of a judge, or the
ilate and degree of a ferjeant at law. Dugd* Orig,
Jurid. 139. that good man, and learned judge. Sir
.. b 3 G^Qrgi
[ xxxvili ]
*' and fccured him from all further trouble
** in that kind ;'* when he undertook to
write the life of Doctor Robert Sander/on^
biftiop of luincoln *^ which was publifhed,
together with feveral of the hilltop's pieces^
and a fermon of tiooker^i in OSiavOy 1 677 •f'.
And, fince little has been faid of the fiib-
jedls of thefe feveral lives, it may not be
amifs juft to mention what kind of men they
were whom Walton^ and indeed, mankind
in general, thought fo well worthy to be
iignalized by him.
George Croke^ had obtained it fome time before the
u^riting of Sanderfon^s life. l»ife ©f Sir George Croke^
\n thtf preface to his Reports, Vol. III.
♦ See the letter from bifhop ^jr/^w to ^f^//^», at
the end of Sanderfon*^ life,
+ The following curious particular, relating to king
Charter the firft, is mentioned in this life of Sanderfon j
^hich, as none of our hiftorians have taken notice of
jt, is here given in WaltotCs own words : " And let
f^ meJie>re take occafion to tell the reader this truths
♦* not commonly known, that in one of thefe con^
** ferencesthis confcientious king told Dr. Sanderfon^
** or one of them that then waited with him, that?
^' the remembrance of two errors did much aiHi£i:
♦* him, which- wete, his affent to the earl oi Strafford's
** death j and the.abQlifhing epifcopacy in Scotland:
•' and that, if God ever reftdred him to be in a peace-
•* able pofleflaoif of his crown, he would demonftrate
•' his repentance by a publick confefSon, and a volun-
^* tary penance, (I think barefoot) from the Tower
^* q( London^ ov fi^iteball, to St. jP^7«/*s church, and
♦' .dtftre the people tq.. intercede with God for his
*^ pattion. I am fure one of them told it me, lives
f} ftijlj-and will witnefs it.'* Life of Sander/on.
Doftor
u t
[ acxxix ]
Dodor yobn Donne was born in LmJcn,
about the year J 573. At the age of eleven
he was fent to Oxford^ from thence he was
tranfpknted to Cam^r/^; where he applied
bunfelf veiy affiduoufly to the then fa(hion-
able ftudy of fchool divinity. At Seventeen
he was admitted of Lincoln s-Jnn ; but not
having determined what profeiTion to foU
I0W9 and being befides not thoroughly iet«
tied in his notions of religion^ he made him-
felf mafter of the Romijb controverfy, and
became deeply fkilied in the civil and canon
law. He was one of the many young gen-
tlemen that attended the earl of Eff'ex on
the Cales expedition; at his return from
which, he became iecretary to the lord
chancellor Ellefmere. Being very youngs
he fell paffionately in love with, and pri-
vately married, a niece of lady Ellefmere ;
one of the unhappy confequences of which
ftep was, that, upon the rcprefentaticps of
Sir George Moor^ his wife's father, who was
very much exafperated, he was difmifTed
from his attendance on the lord chancellor :
)ie languished under great diftrefs and po-
verty ^ till about 161^, when, haying been
prevailed
^ In a letter of his to ap intimate friend, is the fo|<*
lowing moft aiFe£ling paiTage : ** There is not one per-
^* fon but rayfelf well of my family : I have already loft
** half a child, and with that mifchance of hcr's, my
** wife is fallen into fucb a difcompofure, as would
^* affli£l her too extremely, but that the fickncfs of r"
b 4. *'
^#rci.
prevailed on by his friends to enter Into or-
ders, he was made dean of St. Pauh-, bu^
the misfortunes attending his marriage had
not only broke his fpirit, but fo impaired his
conflitution, that be fell into a lingering
confumption,. of which he died in i<33i.
Befides a great number of fermons, and ^
difcourfe on fuicide, he has left of his
writing, letters to feveral perfons of honour,
in ^arto, 1651, and a volume of poems firft
published, and as there is reafon to fuppofe
^ - 'by Walton himfelf,vin_ 16^ g ; but laft, in
J 7 1 9, among which are, fix mod fpirite4
fatires, feveral whereof Mr. Pope has lately
^A^ modernized. He was a man or exemplary
^ ^'virtue and holinefs, and, for the greatnefs of
bis parts, and the univerfality of his learning,
has been compared to Picus of Mirandola.
Sir Henry Wotton was born in 1 578. Aftei;
he had finilhed his ftudies at Oxford^ he re-
fided in France^ Germany^ and Italy \ and a^;
Jiis return, attended the earl of E^;^. He
was employed by king James the firft, in
feveral foreign negotiations, and went ambaC-
fador to Venice ; upon his return to England^
/ • • •
*' her other children ftupifies her ; of one of which j
*' in goo4 faith, 1 have not much hope ; and thef6
^* meet with a fortune fo ill provided for phyfick, and
** fuch relief, that ?f God fhould eafe us with burials,
** I Know not hotv to perform even that. But 1
^^ flatter myfelf with this hope, that I am dying too i
*< for I cannot wafte Yafter than by fuch griefs.
Colleft, of the lives in 1675. P^g^^O,
'• ■ ' ' 'he
^jf^i
k
[ A 1
U was made provoft of Eton college, v/hlch
honourable ftation he held till his death.
He was a man of great parts and learning :
there are extant of his works, ji View of the
pate of Chriftendom^ in Folio^ and the volume
oi Remains^ heretofore mentioned, in which
are his Elements of ArcbiteSiure * ; but his
long refidence abroad had greatly corrupted
his ftyle ; 'which, though it conveys excel-
lent fentiments and obfervations, is, Jike
Sir William Temples^ too afFedtedly full of
QalJicifms, and other foreign modes of ex-
preffion, to be read with pleafure -f-.
Hooker's book of Ecclejiajiical Polity is
fufiiciently known ; fior was the author lefs
valuable as a man, than excellent as a writer i
I)e, as \yell as the former, was known to
WaltOHf and certainly merited the charadler
he has given hrm,
Herbert was of a noble family ; he had
4 frail body* hut a vigorous mind, though of
^ very afcetick turn ; he wrote little elfc be-
fides poetry, which is altogether of the reli-
gious kind. At Cambridge he was celebrate
^d for his parts, and in 1619 was cho-
* This treatife of Sir Henry*s is, undoubtedly, the
;ft on the fubje£l, of any in the modern languages :
few years after his death it was tranflated into Latirt^
nd printed at the end of Vitruviusy with an eulogium
a the author.
t As where he fays, ** At Augufta / took language
^ that the princes and ftates of the union had defeired
• that afl'cmbly,*' Reltqu. Wotton. 489.
' ^ ^ fen
[ xlii ]
fen univerfity orator. Bifhop Hacket, in
his life of archbifliop Williams^ page i y^^
mentions a ftrange circumftance of him j
which, for the fingular manner of relating
it, take it in his own words : " Mr. George
<< Herbert f being pr®le6lor in the rhetorick
*^ fchool in Cambridge, anno i 6 1 8, paiTed by
*^ thofe fluent orators that domineered in the
«* pulpits of Athens and Rome, and infiftec}
*^ to read upon an oration of king James j
•* which he analyfed, fliewed the concin-
** nity of the parts i the propriety of the
** phrafe 5 the height and power of it, to
<^ move afFedions; the ftyle, utterly
*♦ UNKNOWN TO THE ANTIENTS, whq
** could not conceive what kingly eloquence
«* was 5 in refped of which, thofe nbte4
Demagogi were but hirelings, and triobor>
lary rhetoricians."
If it were not that the bi(hop*s account of
this matter is fo ridiculous as to ingrofs one's
whole attention, one would be naturally led
to enquire, whether Mr. Herbert was really
fo deftitute of fincerity and common fenfe, as
to think and reafdn in this manndr; or
whether the eafinefs of his nature could fofar
difpofe him to comply with the then fafliion-
able praftice of celebrating the learning and
eloquence of this (hallow monarch, as this
prelate would have us believe; his known
goodnefs and contempt of riches and prefer-
ment, added to the general reputation . of
6 his
cc
cc
[ xlUi ]
ifis ingenuity and parts^ muft incline one to
acquit him of fuch meannefs, and to alcribe
this extravagant encomium to the invention
of a mind, incapable of fuggefting to its
pofTefTor any other means of prdferment
than the moft abjed flattery.
Sanderfon was a man of very acute parts^
and famous for his deep fkill in cafuiftry ;
that fort of learning was formerly much cul-
tivated among the Romijh divines, with a
view to qualify the younger clergy for the
office of confeflion ; and it continued in fa-
shion here, longer after the reformation than
it was ufcful. In the year 1 647 he drew up
the famous Ojc/^ri reafons againft the cove*
hant, which difcover amazing penetration and
fagacity; andfodiftinguifhedhim, that, at the
reftoration» he was promoted to the bifliop-
rick of Lincoln. In 1 66 1 he, by virtue of a
commiffion from king Charles the fecond,
affiled at a conference at the Savoy ^ between
the epifcopal clergy and prefbyterian di-
vines, for fettling a liturgy *, and died in
1 662. There are extant of his works, be-
fides a volume of fermons, in Foliot Cafes of
Confcience^ in Duodecimo^ and feveral pieces
printed at the end of his life. Walton s
acquaintance with this eminent perfon had a
very eady commencement ; and what de-
* Complete Hift, of Eng. Vol. III. Page 253.
' . ' grec
gree of intimacy fubfifted between thendf
will appear by the following account, which
fufficiently charafterizes the humility of the
good dodlor, and the fimplicity of honeft
Jfaac. **. About the time of his printing
** this excellent preface [to his fermons firfl:
** printed in 1 655] I met him accidentally in
*^ London, in fad-coloured cloaths, and, God
knows, far from being coftly . The place
of our meeting was near to Little Britain ;
*' where he had been to buy a book, which
^' he then had in his hand. We had no in-
clination to part prefently ; and therefor?
turned, to ftand in a corner 9 under zpent^
houfe (for it began to rain) and immedi-
•' ately the wind rofe, and the rain increafed
*' fo much, that both became fo inconve--
nient, as to force us into a cleanly houfe -^
where we bad bread, cbeefe^ ale, and ^ifire^
for our money. This rain and wind were
fo obliging to me, as to force our ftay
there, for at leaft an hour, to my great
'* content and advantage; for in that time,
*' he made to me many ufeful obfervations,
*' with much clcarnefs and confcientious
** freedom *."
Such were the perfons, whofe virtues^f^/-
ton was fo laudably employed in celebrating ;
and furely he has done but juftice in faying,
that
♦ Life of Sanderfon.
^« Thcfe
€€
€C
4€
I a,]
^ Thcfe were honourable men in their gc-*
" Derations" EccIeJiaJiicusXLW . 7 ♦•
And indeed, the fame may be faid of all
his friends ; who were of fuch diftinguifhed
charadcrs, and fo many in number -f-, that
it is matter of great wonder, by what means
a man, in bis ftation, could obtain admit-
tance among fo illuftrious a fociety ; unlefs
we will fuppofe, as doubtlefs was the cafe,
that his integrity and amiable difpofition at->
traded the notice, and concih'ated the affec-
tions of all with whom he had any concern.
It is obfervable, that not only thefe, but
the reft of Waitori% friends, were eminent
royalifts ; and that he himfelf was in great
repute for his attachment to the royal caufe,
will appear by the following relation, taken
from Ajkmole% Hiftory of the order of the
garter, page 228; where the author fpeak-
ing of the enfigns of the order, fays ; " Nor
•* will it be unfitly here remembered, by what
" good fortune the prefent fovereign's leffcr
•* George, fet with fair diamonds^ was pre-
♦ Motto to the Colle£tion of Lives.
f In the number of his intimate friends we find
Afchbifiiop UJher^ Archbifhop Sheldon^ ^'\iho^ Alert on y
Bifho^ Barlow^ Di: Fuller ^ D v. Pricey Vix. Woodford y
Dr. Feailyy Dr. Hold/worthy Sir Edward Byjhy Mr.
CranmeTy and that celebrated fchoUr and critick Mr.
John Hales y of Eton.
. «^ ferved.
€t
€€
[ xM J
" lervcdlf after the defeat given to the Scofcl^
^« forces atfFbrcefier, am* 4 Car. 11. Among
«< the reft of his atttendants then difperfed^
^' Colonel Blague was one; who, (taking
fhelter it B lore-pipe- boufe) in Stirffhrd--
Jhire^ where one Mr. George Barlow then'
<« dwelt, delivered his wife this G^or^e to
*« fecure. Within a week after .Mr. jR^r-
" /(9W hinafelf carried it to R^iert Mtlfvar^,
** Efqj he being then a prifoner to the.p^r-
«* liament, in thegarrifon oi Stafford i and
<* by his means was it happily preferved,
«* and reftored 1 for not long after be d^li*
<' vered it to Mr. Ifaac Walton (a n^an well
^* known, and as well beloved of all good
men ; and will be better known to pofte-
rity by his ingenious pen, in the lives of
Dr. Donn€y Sir Henry fFottoniMr. Richard
*' Hooker 9 and Mr. George Herbert) tp be
" given to Colonel JS/sig-a^, then a prifoner m
** the Tower ; who, confidering it had ^l-
*^ ready paft fo many danglers, was per-
«« fuaded it could yet fecure one hazardous
attempt of his own ; and thereupon lea-
ving the Tower, without leave-taking,
haded the prcfentation of it to the prefent
fbvereign's hand.**
The religious opinions of good men are of
little importance to others, any farther than
they neceffarily conduce to virtuous practice;
fince we fee that, as well the different per-
fuaiions of papiil and proteftant, as the fe-
veral
cc
cc
t xlvii 3
tefal no lefs militant parties into which the
irdbrnied religion is unhappily fubdividcd,
have produced men equally remarkable for
their talents, and exemplary in thei;: lives i
but were it neceflary to be particular on this
head, with refpei^ to our author, we Ihould
fay of him, that he was a very dutiful fon
of the church of England i and that though
he &ems to fpeak of fuch as feparated from
it with feme acrimony ♦, poflibly the age
he lived in, might, in fome meafure, excufe
him. He had lived to fee hypocrify called
into the aid of a caufe, that needed no fuch
auxiliary ; the important queftion of tolera-
tion had not beeft difcuifed ; the extent of
fegal prerogative, and the bounds of civil
liberty, had never been afcertained ; and he,
like many other good men, might imagine
the interefts of the church, and thofe of
tdigion, infeparable.
Befides the 'works of Walton sjbovc-
tnentioned, there are extant of his writing,
yerfes on the death of Dr. Donne, begin-
ning, " Our Donne is dead,** verfes before
jilexander Brome's poems, OSiavo, 1664,
before S^/r/^y 8 poems, OSiavo, 1646, and
lytfortCartwright^s plays and poems, O^avo,
1651. He wrote alfo the following Hoes
under a printof Dr. Z)^;^;?^, before his poems,
publiflied in 1639.
♦ Complete Angler ^ Page 130.
This
[ xlvlii ]
This was for ycutb^ ftrengtb^ mtrtb^ and wii^ that
time
Mojl count their golden age * ; T?ut was not thine :
^hine was thy later years, Jo much refined
From youtVs drofs, mirthy and wit 5 as thy pure
mind
Thought {like the angels) nothing but the praife
Of thy Creator^ in thofe laji, beji days.
fVitnefs this book^ {thy emblem) which begins
With love \ but ends^ with Jighs and tears for
fins.
The late Mr. Des Maizeaux, fome yeara
ago, told a gentleman now living •f*, that
there were feveral letters of Walton extant,
in the Afhmolean Mufeum, relating to a life
of Sir Henry Savi/e, which Walton had en-
tertained thoughts of writing.
In 1683, when he was ninety years old,
he ip\xh\\(htdL Tbealma and Clearchus^ ti paf-
toralhiflory^ in (moot b and eafy verfe ; written
^^^Z fi^^^ h J^^^ Chalkhill, Efq\ an ac^
quaint ant and friend of Edmund Spenfer :
to this poem he wrote a preface, containing
a very amiable charadpr of the author.
He lived but a very little time after the
publication of this poenar: for, as WoodfsLys,
* Alluding to bis age, vtz. eighteen, when the
pi£):ure was painted from which the print was taken.
f The very learned and ingenious William OldySj
Efq; Norroy king at arms, to whom the reader and
myfelf are indebted for the life of Mr, Cotton^ prefixed
to the fecond part of thi^work.
^' he
[ *li* ]
^' he ended his days on the fifteenth day of
^^ December^ 1683, in the great froft, at
" Wincbefter^ in the houfe of Dr. William
•* HawkinSf a prebendary of the church
" there, where he lies buried *."
Waluri% wife was the fifter of Dr, Hbo^
mas Ken, biihop of Bath and JVells i by her
be had a fon named Ifaac ^f-, who» as Cotton
fays, had been in France, and at Rome, and
Venice ; he was bred a clergyman, and be*
came a refidentiary of the cathedral church
of Sarum i he died a batchelor» at a good old
age, and his memory is flill greatly refpe(5t-
ed in thit dioCefe : of this fon mention is
made in a remarkable will of Dr. Donne,
the younger, printed en a half fheet, in
1662 : whereby he bequeaths to Walton all
his father's writings and comraon-place-
book; which, he fays, may be of ufe to
his f(Xi» if he makes him a fcholar ;{:.
He had alfo a daughter, married to the
above-nam^d Dr. William Hawkins, who had
ifluQ by her a daughter named Anne, and a
»
♦ Athen. Oxon^ Vol. I. CoK 305.
4 Short account of' the life of bi(hop Ken, by Wm
Hawkins, £fq; 0£tavt>, 17 13*
% Mt.-Cotton, CompL AngL Part II. pag. 45, fpeaks
of this gentleman as having been at the above-mention-
ed places* And it further appears, that he, with his
uncle bifhop Km, in 16755 being the year of the ju-<
bilee, took a tour to Rome. Mr. Walton was then a
batchelor of arts, and of Cbriji-cburch College in Q*-
fird. Siogr. Brtt. Ken.
c fonj
(if
fbri ; tliis foA was Wtiliam Hawiins^ £f^
fbvybz^l af law» one of the ablefl lawyers of
the laft age, and autbor of the welt^kiiowti
freatire of the picas of the crownp. *
A few months before bis death he made
his witl) which appfear^, by the pecuUarity
of many expreflSons contained in it> as weli
fts by the hand, to be of hts ownr writing >
as there is fooiyething chara£keriftick in thb
kft folenui a^ of his life, it has been thought
proper to conclude this account whh the
I^U^wii^ amthentick copy thereof.
Angwfi the mnihj, one tboufand fix
hundred eighty three.
ISAAC WALTON, the elder,
of Winthefitr^ being this prefent day,,
in the niRe^th year of fnf^gey and in pern
fe£t memory 9 for which praifi^ be God^ biH!
conifdering how ruddainfy I nmy bddepri?ed
of boih^ do therefore make this my iaf^ wil!
afnd teftamene as folbweti : 'Atid firO. I do^
declare my belief to, be> that there is only ojpe
God» who hath made the whole worlds apd
me and all mfankind, to whom I £biaU giva
an account of all my adio»s, wlnieh are not
to be jnftificd^ but I, hope pardoned, for this;
merits of my Saviour ye/us i^ ai>d becafo^lb ^a^
profeiSon of Chriftianity does> at this time,
fcem to be fubdivided into Piapift and Pro-*
teftante,
^- }
teftante^ I take it^ at leaft, to be convenient
to declare my belief to he, in all points of
faith, as the church of fi^^/^nz/noNnrprofef-
feth : and this I do the rather, bccaufe of a
<rery long and very true friendship with feme
bf the Roman church. And for my worldly
d^ate (which 1 have neither got by fallhood
bf fitttery, or the extreme cruelty of the law
bf this nation *) I do hereby give and be-
(joeath it as followeth : Firft, I give my fon-
in-law, T>o(kot Hawkins f and to his wife, to
them I give all my title and right of or in a
part of, a hoofe and (hop in Pater-nofler-roWf
in Limdon^ which I hold by leafe from tlie
lord bilhop of London for about fifty years
to come. And I do alfo give to them all my
Hght and title of or to a houfe in Chancer f*
lane, London, wherein Mrs. Greinwood now
dwelleth, in which is now about fix teen
yildrs to come : I give thefe two leafes to
them, they faving my executor from all da-
mage concerning the farhe. And \ give to
ftiy fon Ifaac, all my right and title to a
ieafe of Norington firmc, which I hold from
the lord bifhop of iVinton -, and I do alfo
give him all my right and title to a farme or
land hear to Stafford, which I bought of
Mr. tValter Noelh, 1 fay, I give it to him and
his heirs for ever^ but upon the condition fol-
* Ailuiling^ pethaps^ to that fundamental maxim of
bur law, Summum jus eft jumma injuria*
c 2 lowing.
[ lii J
lowing, namely : if my fon {hall riot mafr)^
before he fliall be of the age of forty and one
years, or, being married, fliaU dye before the
faid age, and leave no fori to' inherit the faid
farme or land ; or if his fon or fofis (hall not
live to attain the age of twenty and one
years, to difpofe otherways of it ^ then I
ghc the faid farme or land to'the towne or
corporation ©f Staffordf *m which I was
borne, for the good and benefit of fome of^
the faid towne, as I (hall diredl, and as fot-
loweth : but fif ft note, that it is at this pre-
fcnt time rented for twenty one pounds ten?
fbillings a year, an^ is* Kke to hold the faid
i*ent, if care be Taken to keep the barn and
houfing in repair; and I would have, and do,
give ten pound of the faid rent, to bind out
yearly, two boys, the fons of honeft and poor
parents, to be apprentices to fome tradefoien
er handycraft-men, to the intent the f^d
boys may the better afterward get their owli ,
iiviirg. And I do alfo give five pound,
yearly, out of the laid rent, to be given to .
fome maid-fervaiu, that bath attained, thc^
age of twenty and one year, not lefs, and
dwelt long in one fervice, or to fome koneft
poor man's daughter, that hath attained to
tlipat age, to be paid her at or on the day of
her marriage : and this being done, my wilt,
is/ tliat what rent (hall remain of the faid
farme or land, fhall be diipofed of as follow-
eth : firft I do give twenty (hillings^ yearly.
r lis]
to be fpent by the major of Stafford^ and
tbofe that (hall colleft the faid rent^ and dif*
pofe of it as I have and Aiall hereafter di«
red; and that what money or rent fhall re«
main undifpofed of, (hall be unploy^d to buy
coals for fome poor people, that ihall mod
oeed them,, in the faid towne ; the faid coals
to be delivered the firft wceke in "January^ or
in every firft wceke in February ; I fay then,
becaufe I take that time to be the hardeft and
moft pinching times with poor people; and
God reward ihofe that dial] do this without
partialitic, and with honefty, and a good
confcience. And if the faid major and others
of the faid towne of Stafford^ (hall prove fo
oegligent, or diflioneft, as not to imploy the
rent by me given as intended and exprelt in
this my will, which God forbid, then I give
the faid rents and profits of the faid farmc or
Und to the town and chief magiftrates, or go*
vernors oiRclepalU to be difpofed of by them
in fuch manner as I have ordered the difpofal
of it by the town oi Stafford ^xh^ faid farme or
land being near the town of EcleJJjall : and I
give to my fon-in-law. Dr. Hawkins^ whom
I love as my own fon, and to my daughter,
his wife, and my fon Ifaac, to each of them
a ring, with thefc words or motto ; " Lo^'>e
** my memory^ /. IV. obiit '*
to the lord bifhop of TVinton a ring, with
this motto; ** A mite for a million, /. IV.
*^ obiit " and to his friends here-
c -2 aftei
E Uv J
after patped, 1 give to each of them i ring
with this motto ; " A friend's farewell^ I. ^
f* obiit *' and my Will is," the f»i4
rings be delivered within f^rty days after m^yr
death : and that the price pr value of all the
faid rings {hall be thirteen fhillings and four
pence a piece. 1 give to Dodtor Hawkini,
Dodor Donne s fermons, which I have heard
preacht, and read with much content. Tq
rny fon Ifaac^ I give Dodor Sibbs his Souls
ConfiSi ; and to my daughter his Bruijed
ReeJy defining them to read them fo as to
be well acquainted with them. And I alfo
give unto her all my books at JVincbeJier and
jDroxfordf and whatever in thofe two places
are, or I can call mine, except a truiile loit
Jinnen, which I give to my ion IJaac\ bu|
if he do not live to marry, or make ufc of \%^
thpn I give the fame to my grand-c|aughtcr,
Anne Ha^wkins ; and I give my dtuehter^
T>QdioxlIalH works, which be nowatF^rn-;
ham. ^o my fon Ifaac, I give all my
bocks, not yet given, ^iFarnbam Cailell, and
a defke. of prints and pidurcs; alfp a cabinett
near my bed's head, m which are fomelittlq
things that he will value, though of no great
worth. And my will aiid defire is, that hq
will be kind to his aunt Beacbamey apd his
aunt Rofe Ken^ by allowing the ^rft about
fifty (hillings a year, ixt ojr for bacon and
cheefe, not more, and paying four pounds a
year toward the boarding of her fon's dyet :
Xo
t^ 1 .
To Mr, y^l^ fFkitehitadf for his aunt Ken, I
4efire him to be kind to her, according to
her necdlity and bis own abilitici and I
icommend one of her children^ to breed up
as I have faid I intend to do, if ht (hall be
able to do it, as I know he will.$ for they
be good foUpe. I give to Mr. John J)arhy-
P>irt the (ermons of Mr. Anfbi^nyFarringdont
or of Dr. Sanderjbn, which my executor
thinks fit. To my ferva»t, Thmas Edgilh
I give five pound in money, and all my
cloths, Itnnen and woollen, except one futt
of cloths, which \ giVe to Mr, H^linp^d^
and forty (hillings, if the faid Thomas be my
^rvant at my death; if not, my cloths only.
And I give my old friend, Mr. Richard Mar*- .
rkt^ ten pounds in money, to be paid him
within three mondis after my death ; and I
4efire my fon to (hew kindnefs to him if he
(hall lieede, and my Ton can fpare it : and J
^o hereby will and declare my fon Ifaac to
be my (ble ei^ecutor pf this my laft will and
teflament, and DoAor Hanpkins to fee that
he performs it ; which 1 doubt not but he
will. I dcfire my burial may be near th^e
place of my death, and free from any often-
tatk>n or charge, but privately. This I make
to be my laft will, to which I (hall only add
' the codicil for rings, this fixteenth day of
Auguftj one thoufand (ix hundred eighty
ihrce, Ifqac Walton, witpcfs to this will.
P 4 Thi5
[ ivi 3
The rings I give are as on the* other fide :
to my brother 'John Ken^^ to my fifter his
wife, to my brother, Doftor Ketiy to my
fifter Pyey to Mr. Francis Mqrleyy to Mr.
George Vernon^ to his wife, to his threo
daughters, to Mrs. j^elfont to Mr- Richard
Walton^ to Mv. Palmer y to lyir. Taylor ^ to Mr,
I'ho. Garrard, to the lord bi{bop of Sarum,
to Mr. Rede his fervent, to my cozen Dora-'
thy Ken rick, to my coufin Lewtn, to Mr.
JValter Biggs, to Mr. Charles Cotton^ to Mr,.
Richard l^arryot 22, to my hxoihttBeachamp
to my fifter his wife, to the lady Anne How^
to Mrs. King, Dodlor Phillips's wife, to Mr.
Valentine Uarecourt, to Mrs. Eliza Jobn^.
fon, to Mrs. Mary Rogers, to Mrs. Eliza
Milward, to Mrs. Dorothy JVollop, to Mr.
Will. Milward, of Chriji' church, Oxford, tQ
Ms ^, John Darbyjhire, to Mr. Undevill, to
Mfs* Rod, to Mr. Peter White, to Mr.
y?A« Lloyde, to tpy coufin Creinfelh widow^
Mrs, Dalifin ipuft not be forgotten 16,
Ifaac Walton. Note, that feyeral lines are
blotted out of this will, for they were twic^
repeated ; apd that this will is now fignccj
and fealed.this twenty and fourth day of
O^ober, one thoufand fix hundred eighty
three, in the pfefence of us : witnefs, Abra^
bamMarkland^Jof.'TCaylor, Thomas Crawley^
Tq
To the Right Worihipful
JOHN O F F LE Y,
.0 F
Madely Manor, in the Coqnty
of' Stafford, Efq;
^y Moft Honoured Frieno.
SIR.
^ HAVE made (o ill ufe of
» your former favours, as
L by them to be encouraged
* to intreat that they may
be enlarged to the patronage and pro-
teflion of this book ; and 1 have put
on a modeft confidence, that I fliall
not be denied, becaufe it is a dif-
courfe of fifh and fifhing, which you
know fo well, and both love and
praftife fo much.
You
Hviii rU Epiflle Dedkatcfy. ^ .
You arc afTured, though there b?
ignorant men df another belief, thai
langUng is an art, ai^ you kiiow that
art better than others ; and that this
truth is demopftrated by the fruits
of that pleaiant labour which you
l^njoy, when you purpofe to give reft
iio youf mind, and divert yc«rfelf of
your piorc ferious bufinefs, and,
Vhich is ofteft, dedicate a day or two
%o this recreation.
At which time, if common anglers
diould :att6nd you, and be eye-wit^
ncfles of jthe fuccefe, not of your for-r
tune but your flail, it would doubts
le^ beget \n them a$) (emulation to be
like you, and th^t emulation flight
beget an induftrious diligence to be,
fo ; but I know it is npt attainably
by common capacities. Apd there
be now many men of gneat wifdomi
learning, and experience, which love
and pradife this art^ that |(now |
fpeak the truth.
jSir,
^7)e MpiftU Eledicatwy. Hy
Sir, this pleafant curiofity of ii(h
and iiHiing, of which you are fb great
a mafter, 4ia9 b6en thought wcvthy
the pens and prances of divers in
c^her nations, that have been reputed
|D€n of great learning and wifdom,
and amongft thoie of this nation, I
remember Sir Henry Wotton (a dear
lover of this art) has told me, that
his intentions were to write a difcourie
of the art, and in praiie of angling ;
and doubtlefs he had done fo, if death
had not prevented him ; the remem-
brance of which hath often made me
forry ; for if he had lived to do it,
then the ynlearned angler had feen
{bme better treatifc; of this art, a
treatife that might have proved wor-
thy his perufal, which, though fbme
have undertaken, I could never yet
iee in Englijh.
But mine may be thought as weak,
and as unworthy of common view ;
and I do here freely confefs, that I
jliould
1
k ^e E,0le Dedicatory,
(hould rather excufe myfelf, than
cenfure others, my own difcourfe
being liable to io many exceptions ;
againft which you, Sir, might make
this one, that it can contribute no-
thing to your knowledge. And left
a longer epiftle may diminifli your
plea^re, I (hall make this no longer
than to add this following truth,
that I am really,
S I R,
r
Your affeSiionate Friend^
and moji bumbk Servant^
* t
Isaac Walton,
To
[W]
[\^^i
< '^
TO ALL
READERS
OF THIS
DISCOURSE,
But efpeciany to the
HONEST ANGLER.
Think ft to tell thee thefe folhmng
truths^ That I did neither under ^
take^ nor writer nor publijh^ and
much Itfi own^ this difcourfe to
fleafe myfelf: and having been too eajily drawn
to do all to fleafe others^ as Ipropofed not the
gaining of credit by this undertakings fo I would
not willingly lofe any part of that to which I
had ajuji title before I begun it^ and do there-*
fore defire and hope^ ifl deferoe not commen-
dalions, yet I may obtain pardon.
And though this difcourfe may be liable to
fome exceptions^ yet I cannot doubt but that
mof
liii To the Reader.
tnojl readers may receiiie fo much pie afar e bf^
profit by it; its may make it worthy the time of ^
their ferufdi, if they &e not too grave or too
bufy men. And this is all the confidence that
I can put mi concerning the merit of what is
here tiered to their cbf^deration and cenjure %
and if the iaji prove too fevjercj as I have a
liberty y fo I ani refohed to ufe it^ and negledi
all four cenfures.
Ani I wifi the reader alfb to take nbttefi
that in writing of it t have made tnyfelf a re^
creation of a retreation \ ani that it might
prove fo to him ^ and not read dull and tedioaflyi
I have in jtveral plates mixed^ not anyfcarri-^
Jity^ but fonte innocent^ barmlefs mirti, of
whick, if thou be a fever e^ four complexibned
man, then I here difdlhw thee to be a competent
judge-, but divines fay y there are offences giveni
and (xffences not given hut taken.
And I am the willrnger to jufti^ thi pled^
fant part of it y becauje though it is known t
can beferious at feafonable times ^ yet the wholt
iifcourfe is, or rather was, a piSfure of my
own dtfpofition^ efpecially infuch days and timet
as I have laid afide bufinefs^ and gone afijhing
with honefi Nat. and R. Roe; but they ate
gone, and with them moft of my pleafant hours ^
even as a Jhadow that pajfeth awdy^ and ri^
turns not.
And.
To die k£ A it*: isttJti
And next let me addtbh, that be that likes
tot the booi^ Jhoedd like the excellent fiSlure
&f the Grouty, and fome &f the other fijb i
lobicb I may take a kberty to commend^ be^
€aufe they concern not toffelf^.
Next kt me teU the reader^ that in that
tobicb is the more ufefulpart if this difcourfe,
that is tafay^ the ohfi^vations of (be nature
and breeding, and Jea/onsp and catching of
fjb^ I am notjojimple as not to know, that
a captious reader may find exceptions againfi
fsmetbing Jaid of fowoe of thefe I and therefore
I mo^ intreat Urn to confider, that experience
teaches us to kmm^ that federal countries alter
the time, and I think alaiojt the manner, of
fifoes breedings but doubt l^s of their being in
ftafani mmay appear by three rivers in Mon-
mottCfaibirey namely, Severn, Wye> and Ufk,
where Camden Brit. 633, ohferves^ that in
the river Wye, Salmon are in feafon from
September to April ; and we are certain, that
in Thames and Trent, and in mofi other ri^
vers, they be in feafon the fix hotter months.
*tl>f tb^fecuts, mflintiDn rs made at large in JValtetC^
life ; the plates, haying toiig fince been worn out, thofe
Jn. the pr.efent edition are new engraved ; and there are
li«W'adderf,#d[igns^o(the principal fcenes in thebook,
wiJbb the igtn^ dreflbiJ in the* hftbits of the time when
i( was wi^Ktten*
Now
hW !To the R e a b e if <
Now for the (irt tf catching Jijhy thai is to
fay^ bow to make a man that was none, t(xbe
an angler by a , book ; be that undertakes, it^
Jhall undertake a barder tajk than Mr. Hales,
a mojl valiant and excellent fencer, who in a
printed book called, A private School of De-
fence, undertook to teach that art orfcience,
and was laughed at for his hbour. Not but
that many ufeful things might he learnt by that
bookp but be was laughed at^ becaufe that art
was not to be taught by words ^ but praBice:
and Jo mujl angling. And note alfo, that in
this difcourfe I do not undertake to fay all that ^
is known, or may be f aid of it,, but I under ^
take to acquaint the reader with many things
that are not ufually known to every angler ;
and I Jhall leave gleanings and obfervations
enough to be made out of the experience of all
that love andpraSiife this recreation, to which
t Jhall encourage them.. For angling may be
faid to be fo like the mathematicks, that it
can never be fully learnfa at leaft not fo fully,
but that there will Jiill be more new experiments
left for the trial of other men thatfucceed us. •
But I think all that love this game may hire
learn fomething that may be worth their money ^
if they be not poor and needy men ; and in cafe
they be, I then wijh them to forbear to buy it i
for I write not to get money ^ but for pleafure,
6 and-
•
To the Read Ell. licr
iMd tAii difcaurfe boaJIs of no more ; for I
bate to fromife mucb^ and deceive the reader.
And however it proves to him, yet lamfure
iba^e found a high content in the fear cb and
conference of what is here offered to the reader s
view dnd cenfure c I wifib Aim as much in the
ferufal(fit^ andfo I might here take my leave %
but will fay a little and tell him ^ that whereas
it isfaid by many^ that in fiyfj^ing for a
^rout, the angler mujl obferve his twelve
fever alfUes for the twelvemonths tf the year ;
Ifay^ be that follows that rjile^ fcall be as
Jure to catch fjlj^ and be as wife^ as he that
makes hay by the fair days in an almanack^
and nofurer ; for thofe very files that ufe to
appear about and on the water in one month of
the year ^ may the following year come almofi a
month fooner or later y as the fame year proves
colder or hotter ; and yet in thejollowing dif*
courfe I havefet down the twelve fiies that are
in replitation with many anglers^ and they
may ferye to give him fame ohfervations con^
cerning them, /ind he may note^ that there
are in Wales andoiher countries peculiar file s^
proper to the particular place or country j. and
doubtlefs^ unlefs a man makes a fly to counter-*
f^tt that very fly in that place, he is like to
lofe bis labour^ or much of it : but for the
generality y three or four flies ^ neat and rightly
made^ and not too big^ fervefor a Trout in
d mofl
ixvi To the R e a » » H^
mojl rivers all thefummer. And for vnnte^
fiyfjhingi it is as ufeful as an almanack mt
of date. . And qftbefe^ becaufe as w man is
torn an artijl^ ff no man is born an 0ngkrf^
I thought fit to give t bee tbiS-notiee. '
When I have told the reader^ that in tbh
fifth ^ imprejfion there are many enlargement s^
gathered both by my own obfervation^ and the
communication with friends^ IfbaU ftay bim
no longer than to wtjh bim or rainy evening to
read t bis following difcourfe^ and that^ if be .
be an bonefi angler ^ tbe eaft wind may never
'blow when he goes afijhing.
I. w.
* The fifth, as it is the laft of the editlons^publiflierf
itt the author's life-time, has be<in carefully foUov^ds
l)3t the prefer) t j^ublkatioa. if$ tho^ Author's Life,r
To
C iJcva 1
To cny dear Brothbh
Mr. ISAAC WALTON,
cr r ON HIS
COMPLETE ANGLER.
StASMUS m his learned Colloquies
Has mixt Tome coya^ that by varieties
He might entice all readers : for in
him «
£adh child may Wade, or talleft giant iwim*
And fuch is this difcourfe : there's none (6 low.
Or highly learn'di to whom hence may not 9dw
Pleafure and information r both which arc
Taught us with fo much art, that I might fwear
Safely, the choiceft critick cannot teli.
Whether your matchlefs judgment moft excel!
In angling or its praife : where commezidation '
Firft charms, then makes an art a recreation.
'Twas fo to me j who faw the chearful fpring
Pi£tur'd in every meadow, heard birds fing
Sonnets in every grove, faw 6fhes play
In the cool cryftal ftreams, like lambs in A&ri^ f
And they may play, till anglers read this book>
Bgt after, - tis a wife fifli Yc^pes a hook.
Jo. Flov]», M a
4 a TO
^
'•
A
I Ikviii ]
•t>:<;
y
T O T H E
llEADER Qif. fhc CoMptETE. Angler;
ly I R S T mark the title well ; my friend that
*• gave it
Has made it good ; this book deferves to havfc it#
For he that views it with judicious looks.
Shall find it full of arts, baits, lines and hooks*
The world the river is, both you and I,
And all mankind are either fi(h or fry :
If we pretend to reafcn, firft or laft
His. baits will tempt us^ and his hooks holdfaft.
Pleafure or profit^ either ptofe or rhime.
If not at firft, will doubtlefs take in timoi
Here. fits. in fecret blcft theology ^>
Waited upon by grave philofophy , .
Both natural and moral, hiftory
Dcck*d and adorn*d with flowers of poetry^
The matter and expreffion ftriving which
Shall moft excel in. worth, yct.not fcem rich j
Titereiis no danger. in his baits, that hook .
Will prove the fafeft, that is fureft took*
Nor are \ye taught alone, but, which is beft>
Weftiall be.wholfome, and be toothfome dreft,:
Dreft: to be. fed, not to be fed upon;
And danger of a furfeit here is none. t
The folid food of ferious contemplation
}s fauc'd htre with fuch barmlefs recreation,
• That
»
That an ingenious and religious mind
Cannot inquire for more than it may (ind
Ready at once prepared, either t'excite
Or fatisfy a curious appetite.
More praife is due i for 'tis^ both pofitive
And truth, which once was interrogative^ *
And utter'd by the poet then in jeft,
jS/ fifcatortm fifds amare fauft. .
Ch. Harviv, M. a.
To my dear FaiBNo
Mr. ISAAC WALTON,
PR4.ISE ofANOLIMO,
Which we both lore*
Tr\OWN bythisfmoothftream'SwandVingfido,
•■^ Adorn'd and pcrfum'd with the pride ^
Of Fhra^s wardrobe, where the flirill
Aerial choir exprefs their Ikill^
Firft in alternate melody.
And then in chorus all agree,
Wliilft the charmed fiOi, as extafy'd
With founds, to- his own throat deny'd
Scorns his dull element, and fprings
i'th' air, as if his fins were wings.
'Tis here that pkafures fweec and high
Ppoftrate to our embraces lijs.
d 3 SucV
^ I
[ Ijcx ]
Such as to body, feul or fat^Cp
Create no (tcknefS) fin or fliame.
Rofes not fcac*d witb pricks grow here^
No fting to th* honey-bag is near.
But, what's perhaps, their jprejudic$|
ThejMifiicult^ Want land price.
An obvious rod^ a twin: of hair^
With hook hid iri an infefi:, arc
Engines of fport, would fit the wifli
0*th^ Epicure and fill his diOi.
In this clear ilream let fail a grub.
And firaight take qp a P^e or Chu^.
Tth* mud your worm provokes a fnig.
Which being faft^ if it prove big
The Gotham folty will be found
Difcrect, ere ta^cn <bc piuft be drojyn'd.
The Tench, phyficrah of the brook.
In yon dead hole expedts yopr hook.
Which having firft your'paftime been.
Server me for meat or medicine.
AmbuQi'd behind th^t root dcfth ftay
A Pike, to catch and be a prpy.
The treacherous quill in this flow ftre^q:^
Betrays the hunger of a Bream^
And at that mmbler ford, no douht|
Your falfe fly cheats a fpeckled Trout. ,
When you thqfiy creat vires jivifely <^uf^
To praftife on, which to your ufj?
Owe itheir creation, and when
Fifli from yoiir arti do r^fcue rpen %
To plot, delude, and circumvent,
Enfnare and fpoil, is innocent.
Here by thefe cryftal ftr^ams you m^y
I^rcfcrve a Copfcicncie clcv as they ;
Ami
Atid when by fuUen thoughts you fiiui
Tour harrafi^d, not bufied, mind '
In fable oitlancholy clad,
Diftemper^d, ferious, turning fad i
Hence fetch your cure, ca(t in your bair«
AH anxious thoughts and cares will ftraight
Fly with fuch fpced, they'll feem to be
Pofleft with the Hydropbobie.
The water's calmnefs in your breaft.
And fmoothnefs on your brow (hall reft.
Away with fports of charge and noifc.
And give mc cheap and filcnt joys :
Such as ABMfnt% game purfue.
Their fate oft makes the tale feem true.
Tbir fick or fullen haw)^ to*day
Flies not^ to-morrow, quite away.
Patience and purfe to cards and dice
Too oft are made a facriBce :
The daughter's dower, th' inheritance
Cth' Ion, depend on one mad chance*
The harms and mifchiefs which th' abufft
Of wine doth evisry day produce.
Make good the doctrine of the TVir^j,
That in each grape a devil lurks.
And by yon fading faplefs tree,
'Bout which the ivy twin'd you fee.
His fate^s foretold, who fondly places
His blifs in Woman's foft embraces.
All ple^fures, but the angler's, bring
J'th* uil repentance like a fting.
Then on the banks let me nt down.
Free from the toilfome fword and gown,
And pity thofe that do afie£t
To concjuer nations and proteft^
My reed afford^ fuch true cpnten^i
Pelights fo fweet and innocent.
As feldom fall unto the lot
Of fcepters, though they're juftly got,
?649
Tho. Weaver, M. JL
TO THE
^ E A D E R 8
O F
My mofl: ingenious F r i £ n d's Book,
The CompleteAngler.
ZJE thaf both knpw and writ the liyes of
•^•^ men.
Such as were onpe, hut mud not be agen :
Witncfs his nfiatchlefs Donne and Wotton, by.
Whofe aid he could their fpeculations try :
He that conversed with angels, fuch as were
OuMfwortb * ^nd Featly -f-, each Zt fhining (tar
' Shewing the way to Betblem \ es^ih a faint ;
Compared to whom, our zealots now but paint.
He that our pious and learned Mfirley § knew.
And from him fuck'd wit and devotion too.
* Dr« Richardf Holdfiioorih. See ap account of him in
the Taft. Oxoii. 207 ; aad in Wari^t Lives of the Grefiafs^
Profeffon,
+ Dr. Daniel Featljt for wliom fee Jthen, Oxon. 603/
$ Dr. Georgt Morlej, hifliop of Wincbejier.
Jle that from thefe fuch excellencies fecch*d.
That He could tell hov high and far they
reached ;
What learning tlTis, what graces th* other had %
And in what feveral drefs each foul was clad.
«
Reader, this He^ this fifliermian, comes forth^
And it) bis fifliers weeds would Ihroud his
worth.
Now his mute harp is ot} a willow hung.
With which when finely touch'd, and fitly ftrung^
He could friend's paffions for thefe times allay.
Or chain his fellow anglers from their prey.
Byt now the mufick o^his pen is ftill.
And he fits by a brook watching a quill :
Wher^ with a fixt eye, and a ready hand.
He. ftudies firft to hook, and then to land
Some Trout, or Pearch, or Pike \ and having
done.
Sits on a bank, aftd tells how^ this was won.
And that efcap'd his hook ; which with a wile
pid eat the baic, and fifherman beguile.
Thus whilft fome vex they from their lands arc
thrown, * - "
fie joys to think the waters are his own.
And like the Dutcb^ he gladly can agree
To live at peace now, and have fifliing free.
'^pril 3j 1650 Edw. Powel, M. a.
- >
To
[ Ixxvi ]
u^
Ad Yirum optimum, .& FiTciatorem
pcrtiffimum,
ISA A CUM WALTONUNt!
k « ■
Ji/fAgifier artis doife pifcatori^e^
•"^ Wakonej^/w, magnedux arunJinis^
Sm tu reduHd vallefitus ambulas^
Praterfiuentts interim obfervans aquas^
Siu forte furifians in amnis margine%
Sive in tenaci gr amine fs? ripd fedens^
Fmliis petitd ffuameum pecus manu \
O te beatkm I '■ qui proeul negotiiSj
Fmqtte - &:urbis pulvere ^ ftrepitu carens^
Extraque turbam^ ad leni manantes aquas ^
Vagos honeftd fraude pifces decipis.
Dum cater a ergo pctne gens mortalium \
Aut retia invicemjibi Q technofi ftruunt^
JDcnis^ ut bamoy aut divites octant fenes^
Gregi natanttim tu interim neSfis dolos^
Voracem inefcas advenam hamo luciumj
Avidamve percam parvulo alburno capis^
Autjverme ruffo^ mufculd aid truttami levi^:
Cautumvi cyprinum^ Cff fere indocilem capi
.Caldmofi&' Umqite' ars at bum fuperat tua^
Medicamve tincam^ gobium aut efcd trahis^
Gratum palato gobiumy pafvum licet ^
Pradamviy non aque falubrem barbulum^
.Mitfi ampliorem^ &? myjlace infignem gravi.
5 Ha
[ tovii ]
tidfunt tihi artes^ dum annus & ten^us Jurnltti
'J&imdla trm^ akfque lima Jm,
JkcJl^^fmiA, qtd tbioria ^ tiU •
Not a artis bujus \ unde tujimul ionns
Pifcaiar^ idem ^^fcript^ \ (d calami poieni
Uirijque necdum & iSus^ fcf iatnenfafis.
Ut bawiotam nempe tir^nem in/truds-!
Stylo elegant i fcribis en Halieutifa
Oppianus alter artus (^ metbodum tiiJTj 6f
Precept a pronus rite pifcatoria^
Farias 6f efcas pifdum^ indolem & genus.
Nee trader e artem fat put as pifcariam^
{Virtutis ejk i^ bM tamtn ^wedam fcbola
Patientiamque^ & temperantiam dacet)
Document a quin major a das^ & regulas
SubUmoris artiSy & perenma
Mmmenta morum^ vita & exempla optima \
Dum tu prof undum fcribis Hooktrnttiy (ffpium
Donnum ac defertum^ fanSum & Herbcrcttm, fa-
crum
Vat em \ bosvidemusnampemittofuo
Grapbicij & peritd^ I face, depiSos manu,
Poft fata faS^s bofce per te Virbios
O qua voluptas eft legere infcriptis'tuis!
Sic tu libris nos^ Hneis pifces capis^
Mufifque titterifque dumincumbiSy licet
huentus bamo^ in torque pifcandum Jiudes^
AEIUD
/
i IkxViH J
itLlVD At)
l^AACUMWALtON UM
Virum & Prfcatdrem optimum.
I ^ ACE, l^as bdc arte pifcatorid ;
•* iiSf^ tfr/^ Pctrus principi cmjum didit i
^il^ artt princeps nee Pecro ivir/if^ pri6r^
9^ranquillus ilky afie tranqmUo^ pakt
T atria ^ foUhai rtcreareje Ikhens
Auguftusy hamo itfiruSus ac atundink
^u nuiUj Amiu^ proximum clari es decus
Pqfi Csefarem lamj gentis ac HaSeutii^f
Eugi 0 prcfejfor artis baud ingbri^tj
DoSor catbedr^e^ perkgens pifcariam f
N^ tu fnatgiji^^ & iga difcipulus tum^
Nam candidatum & meferunt afandimsy
^ocium bac in arte noMem naffifiimMs.
^idampUus^ Walcone, nam did poteft ?
Ipfi hamiou Dmmm en efbisfmtl
Jaco. Dtp. D, I>;
»x '
THE
Bd>f jlooocdiiif ,toA^ of Tki^ana.^inSa .
THE
COMPLETE ANGLER:
O R. T H E
'Contemplative Man's Recreation.
PARTI,
CHAP. I.
A Car^erence ietwixt an A n g l b r, d
HuNTBR, and a Falconer; eaeb
commending his Recreation.
PISCATOR, VENATOR, AUCEPS.
P'l S C A T O R.
SOU are well otrertaken. Gentlemen,
t a good morning to you both t I
I have ftiietch«d mf legi up Tvtfen-
E kam bill to overtake you, hoping
"^ your bulinefs may occaGon you to-
wards ^4rf, wfiitber 1 am going, this fine, frelfa,
AfcHF morning.
B ytrtat.
* ^i(^ CoifPtfSTB AlfOtER. ^PMTth
l^enat. Sir, I for my part (hall almoft anfwcr
your hopes ; for my purpofe is to drink my
morning's draught at the ThatcbM-houfe in
Hodfdm % and fthink not to reft mil I come
Aithcr, where I have appointed a friend or tWo
to meet me : but for this gentleman that you fee
with me, I know not how far he intends his jour-
ney •, he came fo lately into my company, that I
have fcarce had time to aflc hin^ the queftion.
Auceps. Sir, I ihall by your favour bear you
company as far ^Th^cialas f ; and there leave
you, for then I turn up to' a friend's boufe who,
.mews a Hawk for tne, which I now kuig |o
fee*.
f^enat. Sir» we are all fo happy as to have a
Sne, frefli, cool mori)ing, and 1 hope we (hall
each be the happier in the other's company^ And
gentlemen, that I may not iofe yours, I fliaft
either abate, or amei^d my pace to enjoy it^
knowing that,, as the Italians fay. Good com-
pany in a journey makes the way to feem the
ihorter. .
Auceps. It may do ib Sir, with the help of
good difcourfe, which mcthinks^ we may pro-
mife from you that both look and fpeak ib
cheirfully : and for my part I 'promife you, a»
an invitation to it, that I will be as free and
open hearted, as difcretion wilF allow me to be
with ftrangcfs.
* HodJe/doM'y fo it ftands in Sftlman*% ^iUart Jmrli^»
f Tbt^iaUs, ki the county Qf Hfrtjvrd\ a houfe Duilt hf
IktA Burkigbj and much hoproved by bis ion, Itohrt
Pari of StdT/bury ; who cxchatfgcd4t with king J^tmes the
Firft for *HatfiU. CUmd* JSrit. Cmt ami Cbar. cf King
Chap< I. the Complete Anolbr. 3
Ven. And, Sir, I promife tbe like.
Pifc. 1 am right gUd to. hear your anfwen,
dhd in confidence you fpeak the truth, I fhall
jAt CO a boldnefs to aflc you. Sir, whether bufi-
ncfi or pleafure caufed you to be fo early up,
and walk fo faft 1 for this, other eentleman hath
declared he i$ going to fee a hawk^ that a friend
mews for him.
Veg. Sir^ m'me is a mixture of both, a little
bufinefs and oriore pleafure ; for I intend this day
to do all my. bufinefs, and then beftow another
day or two in hunting the Otter^ which a friend
that I go to meet, tells me, is much pleaianter
than any other chafe whatfoever ; howfoever I
mem to try it ; for to-morrow morning we (hall
meet a pack of Otter-dogs of noble Mr. SaMer*9
upon AmweU-inllj who will be there fo early,
that they intend to prevent the fun-rifing.
Pifc. Sir, my fortune has anfwered my de-
fires, and my purpofe is to beftow a day or two
tn helping to deftroy fome of thofe villainous
vermin, for I hate them perfe&ly, becaufe they
love fi(h fo well. Or rather, becaufe they deftroy
fo much ; indeed fo mtich, that in my judgment
all men that keep Octer-d(^ ought to have pen-
fions from the King to encourage them to de •
ftroy the very breed of thefe bSe Otters, they
do fo muck mifchief.
Ven. But what fay you to the Foxes of the
Nation, would not you as willingly have them^
deftroyed ? for doubdels they do as much roif-
chief as .Otters do* t
Pifc. Oh Sir, if they do, it is not fo much
to me~ and my fraternity, as tbofc bafe Vermin
the Otters do. , .
B 2 y/lucu
'
/
4 5r*tf Complete Angler. PartX-
jIuc, Why, Sir, I pray, of what Fraternity
are you, that you are fo angry with the poor
Otters?
Pifc. I am, Sir, a brother of the Angle, and
therefore an enemy to the Otter : for you are to
note, that we Anglers all tore one another, and
therefore do I bate the Otter both for my own
and for their fakes who are of my brotherhood. ^
Ven. And I am a lover of Hounds i I have
followed many a pack of dogs many a mile, and
heard many merry humfmen make fpon and-
fcoff at Anglers.
Au€. And I profefs myfelf a Falconer, and*
have heard many grave fcrioti» men pity them,
*tis fuch a heavy, contemptible, dull recreation.
Pifc. You know, Gendcmen, it is an eafy^
thing to fcoflP at any art or recreation ; a little *
wit mixt with ill nature, confidence and malice,.*
will do it ; but though they often venture boldly,
yet they are often caught even in their own?
trap, accordmg to that oi Lucian^ the father of .
the family of Scoffers.
Lucian weUJkiWd in fcoffingy this bath nvrit^
Friend^ tbai'sycurfolfy wbicbyou tbinkyour wit :.
"T bis you vent oft^ void both of wit and f tar ^
Meaning another^ wben your f elf you jeer.
«
If to this you add what Solomon fays of Scof-
fers, that rhry are an abomination to mankind,
l^et him that thinks $t feoff on, and be a Scoffer i
ftill ; but I account them enemies to me, and to,
all that love virtue and Angling.
And for you th^t have heard many gr^ve.
ferious men pity Anglers ^ let me tell you. Sir,;
there
Chtp. X. The CoMPLETX A holer. 5
there be many men that arc by others taken to^
be ferious and grave men, which we contemn
and pity. Men that are taken to be grave^
becaufe nature hath made them of a four com-
plexion^ mooey-gecting n>en, men that fpend all
cheir time firft' in getting, and next in anxious
care to keep it ; men that are condenuied to be
rich, and then always bufy or difcontented : ifor
thefe poor-rich-men, we Anglers pity them per-
fcfUy, and ftand in no need to borrow their
thoughts to think ourfelves fo happy. No, no»
5ir, we enjoy a contentednefs above the reach
of fuch difpofitions, and as the learned and ia«
genuous * Mantaigite fays like himfelf freely,
^' When my Cat and I entertain each other
*^ with mutual apifli tricks, as playing with a
*^ garter, who knows but that I make my Caa
'< more fport than (he makes me ? (hall 1 con«
^< dude her to be fimple, diat has her time to
begin or tcfjoSc to play as freely as I my(elf
havei Nay, who knows hut that k is a defeA
of my not 4ioderftandiQg her language (for
^ doubtlels Cats calk and reafon with one ano*
ther) that we agoee bo bettor : and who knowvi
^ but tthat (he pities me for being no wifer,
than to play with her, asd laughs and cenfures
my folly for making fport lor her when we
two play together?*'
Thus freely fpeaks MnHi^gm Gonceroiog Cata»
an(} I hope I ^ajr take as great a liberty to blame
any man, aod laijgh at him too kt him be never
fo grave, that hath not btard what Anglers can
fay in the j unification of their Art and RecBCft*
* In Apol. for Raim. di Sihnit*
B 3 tion.|
cc
6'' The CoiipLETE Anglbr. Partf,
tion \ which I may again tell you is fo full of
plcafure, that we need not borrow their thoughts '
to think ourfclvcs happy.
Fen. Sir J you have almoft amazed me, for
though I am no Scoffer, yet I have, I pray let
me fpeak it without offence, always looked upon
Anglers as more patient and more Ample meni
than I fear I (hall find you to be. %
Pi/c. Sir, I hope y6i! will not judge my
eameftnefs to be impatience i^ and for nr^y umpK'r
city, if by that you mean a harmleflhefs, or that
fimplicity ^hich was ufually found in the primi-
tive Chriftians, who were, as moft Anglers afe^
quiet men, and followers of peace ; men that
were fo fimply-^wifc, as not to fell their Con-
ftpiences to buy riches, and with them vexatiori.
find a fear to die ^ if you mean fuch fimple men
as lived in thofe times when th^re w^re fewer
Lawyers *, when men might have had a Lordfiilp
fafely conveyed to them m a piece of parchment
no bigger than your hand, though feveral fheets^
ivill not do it fafely in this wifer a^e } I fay. Sir,
if you take us Anglers to be fuch fimple men as
I have fpokc of, then myfeff and thofe of my
profefllon will be glad to be fo underftood : Bdt
if by fimpli<:ity you meant to exprefs a general
defeat in thofe that profefs and pradife the
excellent Art of Angling, I hope in time to
difabufe you, and make the contrary appear fo
evidently, that if you will but have patience toi
hear 'me, I fhall remove all the anticipations
that difcourfe, or time, or prejudice have ,pof-
icf«*d you with againft that laudable and ancient
Art i for I know it is worthy the knowledge and
prafticc of a wife man.
But,
Cbap» I. ^be CoI«plbtb ANCLfcn* - 9
uicful aod pleafant to mankind, that I muft not
let them pafs without fon^e oblervactons : they
both feed and refre& him ; feed him wich their
choice bodies^ aod refrelh him with their heaven*
ly voices. 1 will not undertake to mention the
ieveral kinds of Fowl by which this is done \ and
fats curious palace pleafed by day» and which with
their very excrements afibrd him a foft lodging
at. night* Thefe I will pafs by, but not thole
little nimble MuGcians of the air« that warble
forth their curious Ditties, with which nature
hath fumiifaed them to the Ihame of art.
As firft the Lark, when (he means to rejoice 1
to cbcar herfelf and thofe that hear her, (he then
quits the earthy and fings as (he afcends higher
into the air, and having ended her heavenly em*
idoyment, grows then mute and fad to think (he
muft defcend to the dull earth, which (he would
not touch but for neceflity.
How do ihe Blackbiid and Thra(rel with
their melodious voices bod welcome to the chear*
ful Spring, and in their fixed Months warble
forth fuch ditties as 00 art or inftrument caa
reach to i
Nay, the fmaller birds alfo do the like in their
particular Xeafons, as namely the Leverock, the
Tit-lark, .the little Linnet, and the honeft Ro--
bin, that loves mankind both alive and dead*
But the Nightingale, another of my airy crea*
tures, breathes fuch fweet loud mufick out of her
little inftrumental throat, that it might make,
ipankind to think miracles are not ceafcd. He
that ac midnight, when the very labourer fleeps'
iecurely,. (houkl hear, as I have very often, the
clear airs, thefweet dcfcants,. the natural rifing
and
and falling, the doubling «nd redoubling of her
voice, might well be lifted above earth, and
fay, Lord, what mufick haft thou provided
for the faints in heaven, when thou afford^ bad
men fucb mufick on Earth !
And this makes me the iefs to wonder at^e
many Aviaries in Ilafy^ or at the great charge of
Farra his Aviarie, the ruins of which are ycr
to be feen in Romij and is (till fo famous tliere^
that it h reckoned for one of thofe notaUes
whidi^ mon of .foreigo nations either record, or
lay up in their memories when they return from
travel.
i This for the birds of pleafure, of which very
much more might be (aid. My next (hall be
of birds of political ufe ^ I think 'tis not to be
doubted that Swallows have been taught tocvry
letters ^tween (wo^ armies* . But 'tit certain
that when 'the Tttrkyhcritged Malf a or Rhodes^
I Mfw remember not which it was. Paeons ietre
then related to carry ^n«] recarry letters. And
Mr. G. Sandfs ^, in his travels, relates it to be
done betwixt Alepfo and Babylon. But if that be
difbelieved, it is not to be doubted that the Dove
was- fent out of the ark by iV^^) to give him
notice of land, ivhen to him all appeared to bfir
fea^ land the Dove proved a faithful and. comfort*
abl< mefienger* And for the facrifices of the
'. *• \b[* Giorge Sanips^ a very Uarned and accompUflied
peiiUtmv^t wat the yonngeft Ton of Dr. £^win Sandys^ Arch*
biflipp of York* He p^blifhed his Txavels to the Holy Land.
Egypty and elfewhere, in fol. 16709 and made an excellent
j^afaphraii^ on the Pfalmsf Canticks, and tccUJioftfiy in ▼cHe j
and aUb tranilated Ovid*s Metamorfhojes. He dkd in 1 642 1
tod w«|s one of th« beft veffi&ers of that age.
law,
Chap.'l. Ti^ Complete AncleIi. it
law, a pair of Turtle-doves or youDg Pigeons^
were as well acctpted as coftly Bulls and Rams.
And when God would feed the Prophet Elijah^
1 Kings xvii. 6. after a kind of miraculous man-
ner, he did it by Ravens^ who brought him meat
morning and evening. Laftly, the Holy Gholtt
when he defcended vifibly upon our Saviour^
did it by afluming the Ihape of a Dove. And^
to conclude this part of my dtfcourfe, pray re-
member thefe wonders were done by birds of the
air, the element in which they and I take fo
much pleafurc.
There is alfo a little contemptible winged
Creature, an inhabitant of mj aereal element,
namely the laborious Bee, of whofe Prudence^
Policy, and regular government of dieir own
commonwealth, 1 might (ay much, as alfo of their
feveral kinds, and how ufeful their honey and
wax is both for meat and medicines to man-
kind * ; but I will leave them to their fweet
labour, without the leaft difturbance, believing
them to be all very bofy at this very time
amongft the herbs and flowers that we fee na^-
ture puts forth this A6y morning.
And now to return to my Hawks, from whom
I have made too long a digreffion ; you are to
note, that they are uiually diftinguilhed into two
kinds ; namely, the long-winged and the (horo-
winged Hawk : of the firft kind, there be chiefly
in ufe amongft us in thb nation.
The Gerfalcon and Jerkin.
The Falcon and Taffcl-gentel.
* See the Feminine Monarchy; ^^ Hiitory of Bees« by
Charles Butler^ 4to, 1 634.
The
It 516^ CoMPLBTE Angler. PartL
The Laner and Lancret.
. , The Bockcrcl and Bockeret.
The Saker and Sacaret.
The Merlin and Jack Merlin.
The Hobby and Jack.
There is the SicUctto of Spain.
The Blood -red Rook from Turkey i
The Wafkite from Virgima.
And there' is of (horc-winged Hawks^
The Eagle and Iron.
The Gofbawk and Tarcel.
The Sparhawk and Mufket.
The F^remh Pye of two forts.
Thefe are reckoned Hawks of note and
worth, but we have alfo of an inferior rank>
, The Sianyel, the Ringtail. . ,
The R^ycn, the Buzzard.
The forked Kite» the Bald Buzzard.
The Hen-driver» and others that I forbear- to
Hanoc *. .
Gentlemen, if I fiiould enlarge my difcourfe
to the obieryation of the Eires, the Brancher^
the Ramiih Hawk^ the Haggard, and the two
ibrts of Lentners, and th^n treat <^ their leveral
vAyries, their Mewings, rare order of calting»
and the renovation of their feathers ; their tmr
claiming, dieting, and then come to their rare
ftories of practice ;^ I fay, if I (hould enter into
thefe, and many other obfervacions that I could
make, it would be nSucb, very mgch pleafurc to
me: but left I. (hould break the rules of civi-
lity with you, by taking up more than the pro-
' * See Turhr^ilUyLaih^m^ and Markbamj on Falconry.
5 portioa
Chap. I. The Complete Awcle*. tj
portion of time allotted to me, I will here break
offy and entreat you, Mr. Venatinry to fay whac
you are able in the commendation of Hunting,
to which you are fo much afie&ed ; and if time
will ferve, I will beg your £ivoor for a further
enlargement of (bme of tbofe feveral heads of
which I have fpoken. But no more at prefent.
Venat. Well, Sir, and 1 will now take my turn,
and will fiHl begin with a commendation of the
Earth, as you have done moft excellently of the
AiT\ the Earth being that element upon which
I drive my pleafant, whollbme, hungry trade.
The ]^arth is a folid, fetded element ; an ele*
ment moft univerfally beneBcial both to man and
beaft : to men who have their feveral recreations
upon it, as horfe -races, hunting, fweet fmells,
pleafant walks : the earth feeds man, and all
thofe feveral beafts that both feed him, and af-
ford him recreation. What pleafure doth man
take in hunting the ftately Stag, the generous
Buck, the Wild Boar, the cunning Occer, the
crafty Fox, and the fearful Hare ? And if 1 may
defcend to a lower game, what pleafure is it
fometimes with gins to betray the very vermin
of the earth ? as namely, the Fichat, the Fuli*
mart, the Ferret, the Pole-cat, the Mouldwarp,
and the like creatures that live upon the face, and
within the bowels of the earth. How doth the
earth bring forth herbs, flowers and fruits, both
fbr phyfick and the pleafure of cpankind ? and
above alt, to me at leaft, the fruitful vine, of
which, when i drink moderately, it clears my
brain, chears my heart, and (harpens my wit.
How could CUopalra have feafted Mark Antony
with eight Wild Boars roafted whole at one fup-
fcr,*
14 72^^ Complete At^gler, Part-L
per, and other meat fuitable, if the earth had
not been a bountiful mother ?« But to pafs by the
mighty, Elephant, which the earth breeds and
nourifbeth, and defcend to the leaft of creatures,
how doth the earth aflFord us a dodrinal example
in the little Pifmire, who in the fummer provides
and lays up her winter provilion, and teaches
man to do the like* ? The earth feeds and carries
thofe horfes that carry~ us>. If I would be prodi-
gal of my time and your patience, what might
not I fay in commendations of the earth ? that
puts limits to the proud and raging Tea, and by
that means preferves both man and beail that it
deflroys them not, as we fee it daily doth thoie
that venture upon the fea, and are there ftiip-
wrecked, drowned, and left to feed Haddocks ;
when we that are fo wife as to keep ourfelves on
earth, walk, and talk, and Jive, and eat, and
drink, and go a hunting : of which recreation I
will fay a little, and then leave Mr. Pifeator to
the commendation of Angling.
Hunting is a game for princes and noble per-
sons; it hath been highly prized in all ages -, it
was one of tiie qualifications that Xenophonht-
(lowed. on his Cyrus^ that he was a hunter of wild
beads. Hunting trains up the younger nobility
tb the ufe of manly exercifes in their riper age.
What more manly excrcife than hunting the
Wild Boar, the Stag, the Buck, the Fox or the
Hare ? how doth it preferve healthy and incr^afe
ftrength and activity ?
And for the dogs that "we ufe, who can com-
* See a vtry carious and entcrtammg accoant of.the in*
dqftry and fagacity of this little animal in the Guardianf
liiend
Chap. I. 'Thi CoMPLfiTi Anclea. tB
•
mend their excellency to that height which they
deferre ? How perfedk is the hound tt finelling»
who never leaves or forfakes his firft fcent, but
follows it through fo many changes and varieties
of other fcents, even over, and in the water, and
into the earth ? What mufick doth a pack of dogs
then make to any man, whofe heart and ears are
fo happy as to m fet to the tune of fuch inftru*
ments ? How will a right Greyhound fix his eye
on the beft Buck in a herd, fingle him out, and
follow himi and him only through a whole herd
of rafcal game, and ftiU know and then kill him ?
For my Hounds 1 know the language of them^
and they know the language and meaning of one
another, as perfedly as we know the voices of
thofe with whom we difcourfe daily.
I might enlarge myfelf in the commendation
of Hunting, and of the noble Hound efpecially^
as alfo of the doeiblenefs of dogs in general ;
and I might make many obfcrvations of land-
creatures, that for compoficion, order, figure,
and conftitution, approach neareft to the com*
pleatnefs and underftanding of man ; efpecially
of thofe creatures which Mofes in the law per-
mitted to the Jews^ which have cloven hoofs
and chew the cud *, which I (ball forbear to
name, becaufe I will not be fo uncivil to Mr^
Pifcatar^ as not to allow him a time for the com-
mendation of Angling, which he calls an art}
but doubtlefs it is an eafy one : and Mr. Aiutps^
I doubt we fhall hear a watery difcourfe of it, but
I hope it will not be a long one.
Auc. And I hope fo too, though I fear it will.
• Fife. Gentlemen^ let not prejudice prcpof-
fefs you. I confefs my difcour le is like to prove
fu it able
j$ Tie CoM^tETB AjfGifiR. Pttrth
futtabte to my recreation, calm and quiet $ we
fetdom take the nanie of God into our mouths^
but it is either to praife him or pray to him ^ if
others ufe it vainly in the midft of their recrea-'
, fions, fo vainly as if they meant to conjure; I
^uft tell you> it is neither our fault or our cuftom^
we protelt againfl: it. But, pray remember I
accufe no-body V. for as I would not make a.
watery difcourfe, fo I would not put too much
vinegar into it; nor would I raife the reputation^
of my own art, by the diminotioft or ruin of
another's. And fo much fur the prologue to-
what I nie^n to fay.
And now for the Water, the element that I
trade in. The water is the elded: daughter of the
creation, the element upon which the Spirit of
God did firft move, the element which God com-
manded to bring forth living creatures abundant-
ly ; and without which, thofe that inhabit the
land, even all creatures that have breath in their
noftrils, mud fuddenly return to putrefaction.
Mojes^ the great lawgiver and chief philofopher,
fkillcd in all the learning of the Egyptians^ who
was called the friend of God, and knew the
mind of the Almighty, names this element the
firft in the creation ; this is the element upon
which the Spirit of God did firft move, and is
the chief ingredient in the creation : many phi-
lofophers have made it to comprehend all the
other elements, and moft allo^ it the chiefeft in
the mixtion of all living creatures.
There be that profeft to believe that all bo-
dies are made of water, and may be reduced
back again to water only : they endeavour to
demonftratc it thus :
Take
tftap. I. tit CakpiesTB ANCtkt. tf
Take i wlUow, or faj Uks .fpecdy glowing
{rbiu, mm\y rooted in a box or .b^rel fuU off
f artb, weigh t^em aA toother ejraftly wtbtn the
treas begin to gra«r^ a»d then wefgh attcogedier
after the tre$ is incresM from \nmk roodng* to
l¥eigh an fauodncd pound weight more than when
it was firQ: rooted and weighedi and you ibaU
find this aiigrfient of die tree to be i/veitkout the *
diminurkki of one drachm weight of the eartfai
Hence they inf^r this iitercafe of wood to. be
from water or rain, orfrom dew, and hot to be
i^m any dtlkr ilnancitat. And the^ aif&rm,. they *
ean redtfce thia wood bou^k again to water ) ana
they affirm atfo ihe fame may be done la any
an'ima) or vegeta(bie. And this I take to be a
him teftimo|)y of the tfxpdiency of. my element
of wafer^
ICbc wat^r is 4ffiofe {frodirdive than the earth* .
Nay, the earth hath no fruitfulneis without
fhowers or dews ; for all the herb?;^ and flowerSt*
and fruitare produced ^d thrive by the watery
and the very minerahare fed by ilreamsthat run
under ground^ ^Uok naturial courle carries them>
to the tops of many high maintains, as we fee
by feveraA ^rin^^bredking forth on the tops of
the higheft hills ; and this is alfc WitMiled, by
the daily trial and teftimony of ^feveral miners.
Nay, the increafe of thofe creatures that are
bt«d amf fed In the whter; iise noi:, offiTy moreand
mbft pfwrnculbos; but mofeadvant^busto man,
rtot only for the length^ping of k'rs life, but for^
the pn^entinfg qf fi5f defs •, fpr it is abferved by
the moft learned phy^cians^ that the cafting oflT
of lent and other- fifli dayj,**VfWch hath not
only given the lie to fo many learned, pious,
C wife
it The CoifFLfeTS AKCtJfit. . Part I.
wife founders of cottegea, for^which we. Ibould
be afbamedt has doubdefs been the chief caufe
of thofe many putrkt, ibakihgf intermitciog
agues, unco which this natibn of ours is now
more fub]e£fc than thofe wiftr coumtries that feed
on herbs, fallets, and plenty of fifb^ of which it
is obferved in ftory, that the greateft part of the
. world now do. And it may be fit to remember
that Mofes^ Lev. xi. 9, Btut. xiv. 9. ^pointed
fifli* to be the chief diet for the beft common^
wealth thdt ever yet was.
And it is obfervaUe, not only that there are
fifh, as namely the Whale, three times as big as
the mighty Elephant, that is io fierce in battle^
but that the mightieft leafts have been of filh4
The Romans J in the height of their glory, have
made fidi the miftrefs of all their entertainments 1
they bare had mufick to iifher in their Sturgeons^
Lampreys, and Mullets, which they would pur<^
chafe at rates rather to be wondered at than be^
lieved. He that (hall view the writings of Mi-
irobius ♦, or Varro f , may be confirmed and
informed of this, and of the incredible yalpj^of
their fifli and fi(hponds.
But, Gentlemen, I have almoft loft myfelf,
which I confefs I may eafily do in this philofophi*
cal difcourfe ; I met with moft of it very lately^
^ Jurelius Uder^hiui^ a kattted writer of the. fourth ^ea«
tury ; he was chamberlaia to the Emperor TbtUpfi^s ;, he
wrote Saturnaliu^ a learned work on antiquities \ and many
other books, which are now loft.
t Marcus Tirenfius Varro^ a moft learned /^MUM^ ed«
temporary with Ckir9^ and anthor, as it is fiud, of near five
hundred volumes* He is ont of iho beft writers oa agri*
culture.
and.
Knd, I hopc^ happily, in a conference with «
inoft learned phyfician. Dr. IVbarton *» a dear
friend^ that loves both mt and my art of an^*
ling. But however^ I will wade no deeper iri
theie myiteriqus arguments, but pafs to Aich ob-
fervations as I can manage with more pleafure^
and lefs fear of running into error. But I mu^
|iot yet forfake the waters, by whofe help we
have fo tpany known advantages.
And firft, to pafs by the miraculous cures
6f our known baths, how advantageous is tlie
lea for our daily. trii(fick« without . which we
tould not now fubfift? How does it not only
furniih us with food and phyfick for the bodies^
but with fuch obiervations for the mind as ihge»
nious perfons would, not want F .
Hqw ignorant had we been of the beauty of
Florence^ of the monuments, urns, and rarities
that yet remain in, and. near unto old and nevir
Rome^ fo many as it is faid will rake up a yearns
time to view, and aflford to each of ihcm bat a
convenient conlidcration ; and therefore it is not
to be wondered at, that lb learned and devout a
father as St. Jerome^ after his wifli to have fcta
thrift in the Jie/bi and to have heard Sc. Paul
preach, . makes his third wi(h, to haveficn Rome
in her glory,', and that glory is not ycc all lolt,
for what pleafure is it to fee the monuments of
Zii^, the choiceft of the hiftorlans : of 3ic/^,
the bcit of orators ^ and to fee the bay trees that
now grow out of tti6 very tomb of Virgil?
f Dr Thomas Jt^barton^ an emin^t phyiician and tx^
^client anatomiit. and Qrefhawk profeflbr of ^phyfick. He
lived iri JUirfgdh-JfHit^ lokdcn, and died *i 67 3. At hen,
Okbn. J 22.
G..2 Thcfr.
id Tie CoMmT2 AwdLiRf €^*tl*
Thefe, ta any that love learnings muft be pica-
fing. But what pieafare is it to a devout Chri(^
tian, to fee there the humble houfe in which Sri .
Paul was content to dwell, and to view the
inany rich-' ftatues that are there made in honour
prhis memory ? nay, to fee the very phce In -
which St. Peier * and he lie buried together ?
Thefe arc in and near to Rome. And how much
«nore doth it pleafe the pious curiofity of a Chrif-
|iaiT,'CO fee that place on' which the bleifcd Sa»-
triour of the world was pleafed to humble him-
felf) .and to take our nature ppon him, and to
converfe with men ? to fee mount Sion^ Jerufa-^
hm^ and the very fepulchre of our Lord Jefus?
How may it beget and heighten the zeal of a
Chriftian, to fee the devotions that are daily paid
to him at that place ? Gentlemen, left I forget
myfelf I will ftop here, and remember you, that
but for my element of water, the inhabitants of
shis poor ifland muft rensmin ignorant that fucb
things ever were> or that any of them have yec
a being. * '
Gentlemen, I might both enlar^ and lofe
myfelf in fuch like arguments j I might tell yoa
• that Almighty God is'fajd to havq; fpoken to a
fifli, but never to a beaft ; that he hath made a
whale a (hip to carry and fet bis prophet Jonah
fafe on the appointed Ihore. Of thefe I might
fpeak, but I muft in manners break off, for I fee
Theobalds houfe. I crjr you mercy for being fo
long, and thank you for your patience.
* The ProteHants deny not only that St. FeterWcs buried
in the Vati£an% as the Romijb writers afTert, but that be ever
*^z& 2XBjnns^ See the Hijioria Afofiolica of Lud. Capellus.
Chap. L Tie Complkts ANatsii^ it
Juceps. Sir, my pardon is cafily granted you :
t except againft nothing that you have faid|^
neverthelefs, I muft part with you at this park-
wall, for which I am very forry % but I aflfure you,
Mr. Pif color ^ I now part with you full of good
thoughts, not only i^yourfelf, but your recrea**
tion. And fo gentlemen, God keep you both.
Fife. Well, now Mr. Venaiar^ you (hall nci*
cber want time nor my attention to hear you
enlarge your difcourfe concerning hunting.
Fenal. Not I Sir, I remember you faid tha€
angling itfelf was of great antiquity, and a per*
fe£t art, and an art not eaGly attained to; and
you have fo won upon me in your former dif-
courfe, that 1 am very defirous to hear what you
can fay further concerning thofe particulars.
Pifc. Sir, I did fay £6^ and I doubt not but
if you and I did converfe together but a few
hours, to leave you pofleft with the fame high
and happy thoughts that now poflefs me of it ;
not only of the antiquity of angling, but that
it deferves commendations ; and that it is an art,
and an art worthy the knowledge and praftice of
a wife man.
f^enat. Pray, Sir, fpeak of them what you
think fit, for we have yet five miles to the
Thatch*d houle, during which walk, I dare pro-
mife you my patience, and diligent attention (hall
not be wanting. And if you (hall make that to
appear which you have undertaken, firft, that it
is an art, and an art worth the learning, I (hall
beg that I may attend you a day or two,aii(hingt
and that I may become your fcholar, and be
inftruded in the art itfelf which you fo much
magnify.
C3 Pifc.
22 J'i^^ Complete Angler. PartV
Pifc. *0, Sir, doubt not but that ianglirtg \^
4n art ; is it not an art to deceive a Trout with
an anific^al Flie ? a Trout ! that is more (harp-
Cghted than any Hawk you hav^c named, and
more watchful and timorous than your high
rtiettled Merlin is bold ? and yet, I doubt not to
catch a. brace or two to-morrow^ for a friend's
brc;>kfaft : doubt not therefore, Sif, but that
angling' is an art, and an art worth your learrt*
ing: the queftion is rather, whether you be
capable of learning it ? for angling is fomewhat
like poetry, men are to be born fo : I mean^
>vith inclinations to it, though boith may be
heightened by difcourfe and praftice -, but he that*
Iiopes to be a good angler, muft not only bring
an enquiring, fearching, obferving wit, but be
muft bring a large meafure of hope and patience,
and a love and propenfity to the art Itfclf * -, buc
having
* Markham, in huCounfryCffnieniments^ has a whole chapr
XfiT on the fubjc6t oi the jingler*s appardt ami innjcardquali^
.im\ fome orwhieh are, " That he be a^eneral fcbolar, an4
** feen in all^the liberal fciences ; as zgrammariant to kno\y
"^^ how to write, or difcourfe, of his art in true and fitting
«** terms. He ihould h^vtfiveeinefs offpeetb, to entice others
V to delight in an exerctfe fo much laudablp. He fi^ould have
** ftrengtbtf^ argument to defend and maintain his profefHoht
• * againfl envy and flander." Thou feeft, reader, how eafily
the author has difpatched GrdrHmar^ Rhetoricky and Logick^
three of the liberal fciences; and his reafons are not a whit
)ef8 convincing, with refpe^-to the other fojur.
^ than would thinjc now» that with proper bait^ good
tackle in his pannier, and fo much fcience in his head, our
. angler would Hand a pretty good chance to catch Mi ; but,
ajasl thofe are little to the purpofe, without the, Chrifiran
Tiiptues <4 /''itk^^^fh A*>^ charity ; and ynlefs the cardin^U
njirtues Can be periuaded to go a fi(hingrthe angler may as
well "(lay at home : for hear what Mr. MwrWam %s about
V * ^ fortitude :
^
Chap. !• ne CaMPtxTt ANOLiftr 2^
having once got and pni£{ifed it, then doubt not
but angling will prove to be fo pleaTant, that it
will prove to be like virtue, a reward to itfclf* ^
Venai. Sir, I am now become fo fuU of tx^
peftation, that I long much to have you proceed,
and in the order that you propofe.
Pifc. Then firft, for the antiquity of ans*
ling, of which I (hall not fay much, but onlv
this-, fome fay it. is as ancient as DtueaUant
flood : others, that Btbu^ who ^^ ^'^ ^^^ in*
vemor of godly and virtuous recreations, was
die firft inventor of angling : and fome others
fty, for former times have hac* their difquifitions
li^ouc the anriquity of it, ;r <^* Seih^ one of the
ions of Adanh tai^ht it to his fons, and that
by them it was derived to pofterity : others fay,
diat he left it engraven on thofe pillars which he
crcAed, and trufted to preferve the knowledge of
the matbematicks, mufick, and the reft of that
precious knowledge, and thofe ufeful arts which
py God's appointment or allowance and his noble
induftiy, were diercby preferved from perifhing
in NoaVs flood.
Thefe, Sir, have been the opinions of feveral
men> thaj^bave poffibly endeavoured to make
/artiiadti ** Then mofthe be/r^f tnd t/alimiii n^iber
'* to be amsBcd mth Aor«i«» nor ai&ighted with thandcr :
* and if be is noi imfiraiif bot bas a snawing ftomacb»
* thai will not endare much fiiftingy oat muft obferre
* hours ; it troobleth the mind and txidy, and lofeth that
' delight which maketh the paftime only pleafing.*'
There is no doubt but Wdlun had this cnapter ofMurf^
kfm in his eye ; and as there is a humorous folemnity in
thus attempting to dignify an art, which furely borrows as
little of lis permion from harming as any that is^prattfed,
it wai thought it might divert the reader to quote it. .
C 4 angling
»» »
»Oglitfg morc^ncjcntjtfegifl i$ ;iifpdful, pr may
Itfell be ,W;Ji.rr^m€d } b^ijit for my pj^rt^ I Ib^ll con*'
tej^t my&lf in telling you,, tb^t apgliog is much
piQrj&s^nciient th^n the incarnation of our S^vipqr ;
[or io ihe Prc^bet jimf^ luendqts is q^ade of.
,^(h-hooUs ; and in the rbook of ^ip^^ , whicfa; w^;
Wg.b?fprie i(te;d^ys.,^f -^j, fof .that, book is
feid to b^ writ by iVJ^Tf^,. njq^dqp i^ npiadp aUqi
pf gfii-hookS) which muft imply apglers io tbofe
But, my worthy fnendi as 1 would rad^r
grc^ye myfcif a gentleman by. bqng learned an4:
Hrtble, yaliani: f^d inoJFqi^yc, yirf^pijis aD4:
mtnmumc?ble, th«»';^by any fond o(|entati9^ of;
richeSj or wan ting*'t hole virtues ,ipyftlfj.;boaiflt:
that thefe w^re in my anceftors, and yet I graot,
^9t where a noble and ancient delc^pt apd fuctit
Inerit meet in any man, it is a doifble dignifi-,
potion pf that perfon ; fp if thi^ gnjtiquity of
angling which for.ipy part I haw nftif forjipdt;
Jhall, like an ancienf foipiJy, bo eifher an hpng vj
or an ornament to this yirtMpus^t.wIuch I pro*:
fefs to love*and praftife, I IhalJ be^tjic gM^^.?.
th&t I made an 4ccid^nta) menttpii pf the^^^qtir
quity of it^ of which I (hail f^y ;}0 t^pfc;, tjmt^
proceed to that juft commend^tiofi which I tiling
?t defervf $. • " ■ . •' •' ;:. '. *' .: ■ ^
An<i for th^t I Ifas^ll tel) yoil, diai m ancient
times a debate hath rifen, and it Remains yc^^
uorefolved, whether the.bappiaef^^, qf man in.
this world doth cpn|ift i^Qr^ia^pfntemplationor
aftion * ?
^This it^a qtidlion which fliany perfons of wit, d|>«ciaH j
tmcmg the Italian sftktrs, hUvb di^tlfibd ; aM%9^fxtioB, in
t (!^eroing which fome have cadeavoured co
I ' maintain their opinion of the firft, by faying^
f that the nearer we moruls come to God by way
of imttation, the more happy we are. And they
iay, that God enjoys himfelf only by a contem*
plation of his own inQnitenefs, eternity, power
and goodne(s» and the. like* And upon this
giouiid, many cloifteral men of great learning
and devotionrprefer contemplation before aftion«
And many of the fathers feem to approve this
opinbos as may appear in their commentaries
ypon the words of our Saviour to Martha^ Luke
X. 41, J^z.
And on the contrary, there want net men of
equal authority and credit, that prefer a£bioh to
be the more excellent, as namely experiments in
ghyQck, and the application of it, ooth for the
cafe and prolongation of man's life \ by which
each man is enabled to aft and do good to others,
either to fervc his country, or do good to parti-,
cular perfons I and they fay alfo, that adtion is
doftrinal, and teaches both art and virtue, and
is a maintainer of human fociety ; and for thefe,
and other like reafons, to be preferred before con*
temptation.
Concerning which two opinions I fliall forbear
to add a third by declaring my own, and reft,
myfelf contented in tellinc you, my »very wor-
thy friend, that both thefe meet togetlier, and
do mofi; properly belong to the moft honeft, in*
genuotts, quiet, and harmlefs art of angling.
tKe jodgment of Lord ClannJmi, about as profitable, as wbe«
tber a long joar&ey is beft onder^keo oq a iUck or a haj
Jiorfe^ Sa L»d Clareadon'i TraSst pag. 167*
And
i$ y^/CbMPtETE Anglir. Parti/
AncJ firfti i 0iali tell you what fome havVobi-
ifef ved, af)(J 1 h^ve fouiid it to' be a real truths
jhat the ycry fitting by the river's fide is not only
the <juieteft a;id fittefl place for contemplation,
but will invite an angler to it« and this feems
to be maintained 4>y tl^e learned Peter ^ Mdutifij
♦ who in his difcourfe of, th?t fplfilltng of pro-
phecies, bbferves,^ that when 0od intended ta
l^j^veal any future events or high notions to his
prophets, he- then carried them either to the
defarts or the fea-(hore, that having fo feparated
them from amidft the prefe of people and bufi^*
nefs, and the cares of jthe world, he might fettle
their mind in a quiet repofe, and there make
them fit for revelation,
And this feems alfo to be intimated by the
children of Ifrael^ Pfal cxxxvii, who having in a
fed condition baniflied all minh and mufick from
their pen five hearxs, and having hung up their
then mute harps upon the willow- trees growing
hyt\Strxvtr^ oiBahylon^ fat down upon thoie bankr
bemoaning the ruins of Sion^ and contemplating
their own fad condition.
And aj) ingenuous Spaniard -f hy^y that/* ri-
*« vers and the inhabitants of the watry clement
*' were made for wife men to contemplate, and.
** fools topafs by without confideration.** And
though 1 will not rank myfelf in the number of
the firft, yet give me leave to free myfelf from
the laft, by offering to you a fhort contf mpla-
tion, firft of rivers, and then of fifh \ concern*
ing' which I doubt not but to give you many
• Dr. Peter du il/(?«/f«,, Prebendary of Canter hity^ and
' author of feveral pieces ia the Remifi controverfy,
t Faldefo.
obfervatio^
Ciap. L The Complete Amcler. if
pbfenrations that will appear very coniiderable t^
i am fure they have appeared fo to me, and
made many aa hour pais away more pleafantly*
as I have fate qoietly on a flowery bank by a
calm river, and contemplated what I (hall now
relate to you.
And fir ft concerning rivers ; there be fo many
wonders reported and written of them, and of
the feveral creatures that be bred and live in
them, and thofe by authors of fo good credit^
that we need not to deny them an hiftorical
faith.
As nan^ely of a river in EpiruSj that puts out
any lighted torch, and kindles any torch tfcat
was not lighted. -Some waters beine drunk caufe
madnefs, fome drunkennefs, and tome laughter
to death. The river Selarus in a few hours turnr
a rod or wand to ftone : and our CMiJem men*
tions the like in England^ and the like in Locb*
mere in Ireland. There is alto a river in Arabia^
of which all the (heep that drink thereof have
' their wool turned into a vermilion colour. And
one of no lefs credit than Ariftotky tells us of A
merry river, the river Elufina^ that dances at the
noife of mufick, for with mufick it bubbles*
dances,- and grows fandy, and fo continues till the
iiiufick ceafes, but then it prefently returns to
Its wonted calmhefs and cleamefs. And Camden
feHs'us of a well near to Kirby in ff^ejimoreland^
diat eb^bs and flows feveral times every dav.: and
he tells us of a river in Surry^ it is called Mole^
that after it has run feveral miles, being oppofed
by hills, finds or makes itfelf a way under ground,
and breaks out again fo far off*, that the inhabi-
tants
flS J'lfc^ Complete Angler. Part L
tants thereabout boafl:, as the Spaniards do of
dieir river Anusj that they feed divers flocks of
(beep upon a bridge. And laftly, for I woiilcl
not tire your patience, one of no lefs authority
tb^ Jpfiphusj that learned Jew^ tells us of a river
in Judea^ that- runs fwifcly all the fix days of
the week, and ftands (till and refts all their fab-
bath."
r But I will lay afide my difcourfe of rivers, and
tell you fome things of the monfters, or fifh, call
them what you will, that they breed and feed in
them. Pliftf the philofopher fays, in the third
chapter of his ninth book, that in the. Indian
feajyi the fi(h called the BaUnaox Whirl-pool, is
fo long and ^road, as to t^^^ more ii\ length
and breadth than two acres of ground, and of
pther filh of two hundred cubits long \ and that
in the* river Qanges^ thtvt be Eels of thirty
feet long. He fays there, that thefe nionfters
appear in thac.fea only, when the tempeftuous
Winds oppofe the torrents of waters falling from
the rocks into it, and fo turning what lay at the
bottom to be feen on the waters top. And he
fays, that the people of Cadaraj an ifland near
this place, make the timber for their houfes of
thofe fi(b-bones. He there tells us, that there
M'e fometimes a thoufand of thefe great Eels found
wrapt, or interwoven together. He tells us there,
that it appears that dolphins love mufick, and
will come, when called for, by fome men Or
boys, that know and ufe to feed them, and that
they can fwim as fwift as an arrow can be (hoc
out of a bow, and much of this is fpoken con^
cerning the dolphin,* and other fiib, as may. be
found
Chap* I. The Complete AKCLSt. sy
found alfo ia the learned Dr. Cafmhn^s ^difcourfe
of credulity and incredulity, prioccd^ by him
about the year 1 670.
I know, we iflanders are averfe to the belief
of thefe wonders ; but, there be (d maay ftrange
creatures to be now feen, niany coHeded bf
Jclm TraJefca$Uj and others added by my friend
Elias JJhmoU^ £iq; who now keeps .them care*
fully and methodically at his houfe near to
Lambeth near LondM -f-, as may get fome belief
of
f Dr. Meric Cafimhnt the (ba of die famoai i/mat Cajku-
hmi he was a prebendary of Cataerhiy, and died 1671*
See his life in the Bhgraph. Brttam.
f Mr. John Tradijcant was a great colledor of rarittes,
and lived at South Lamhetht in Surry : there is extant a
eatalogoe of his co11e&ion» entitaled, Mufieum Tnufe/cam-
tianumy in fmall OQavo^ 1656. Mr. Jljbmok and hU
wife, boarded at his hoofe for a fammer; and Tradtp-
taut and his wife, after long confideration upon whom
they ihonld beilow the colledlion above-mentioned Joined in
a deed of gift thereof to Mr. JJbmfiU. What kind of rari-
ties they were, few who have been at Oxford are ignorant ;
it feems they were of fach a fort as made it neceflary that a
FemU'Covert^ the wife of the proprietor, 4liouId join in a
conveyance pf them; in which refpe^t it mnft be owned.
they are zreat rarities J fiocf^ they are, by that circumftance
alone, difHoguifbed from et^ry other ipecies of perfonal
property in this kingdom. However, the woman feems to
have repented of her generofity : for, after the death of her
hoCband, Mr. JjhmoS applied to the Court of Chancery,
and procured a decree for the delivery of them. Soon after
the obtaining whereof, Mrs. Tradifcant was found drowned
in her pond. This colledlion, with what additions he after'
wards made to it, Mr. AJhmcU gave to the Univerfity of Ox-
ford \ and fo became the founder pf the AJhmoUan Mufeum.
JJhmole was at firft a folicitor in Chancery ; but marrying a
lady with a large fortune, he addidted bimfelf to the then
fafhionable dudies of chemiltry and judicial aftrology : he
was befides a laborious and learned antiquary, and a very
ikilful herald. But the foundnefs of his underftanding is
rendered
^o .?*&? Complete Angler. i*art f;
fcf fomc of the other wonders I mentioned; I
iffiM tell you fome of the wonders that- you may
DOW feCt, and not till then believe, unlcfs yoo
think ftrj
You nray thtire fee the HogrfiQii the Dog*
fig, the Dolphin, the Goney-fiflj, the Farrot-fim^
the Shark, the Poifon-fifli^ Sword-fifli^ and not
only other incredible filh ; but you may there fee
the Salamander^ feveral forts of Barnacles^ of
Solan Geefe, the Bird of Pai'adife, foch forts of
Snakes, and fuch Birds nefts, and of fo various
forms, and fo wonderfully made, as may beget
Wcrnde^and amufemcrit in any beholder : and to,
many hundred of other rarities in that colleftiorr,-
as will make the other vlronders I fpake of, the
iefs incredible; for, you may note^ that the
Waters are nature's ftore-houfe, in which (he
locks up her wonders.
But, Sir, left this difcourte m^y feerri tddious,'
I (hall give it a fweet conclufion out of that holy
poet Mr. George. Herbert *, his divme concemr-
■plation on "God's providence.
Lprdi who hatbpraife ilnougb^ my'y ii)b9 hath ah^ ?
i^one can exprefs thy idorks\ hiit he thai knozvs ibcm y
Ani none can know thy tvorksy they\ cite fo many^
And fo complfati but only he that owes them.
Wi (At acknowledge both thy power and love
To be exaSiy tranfcendent and divine 5
rendered fomcwTiat que^ionable by the following paffage in
his diary* publiQted hy Cha* Buirmdn^ Efq; in \im9. 1^717.
<< I i|h Aprit^ 1681 , 1 took, early in the morning, a good
*< dofe of eltxir, and hung thru Jfiderx about my neck ; and
«* they drov^ n)y agne away. Uito gratias*^
* See an account of this peribn ifi WaltQrf% life.
ffl?o dojl fo firangely anifofwatlf move^
Wbilfi all things bow ibfir tndf ye$ imjU M itiMii
tinker efare^ moji f acred Spirit^ IbereprefeiU
For me^ and all myfeHaws^ praife to'tbee^
Andji^ it is thai IjhouldpcPf ^e rtnii
Becaufc the btnefit accruis to mi.
And as cdncefning (ifh in that pfiiloA^ PfaU
ctv« wherein for height of poetry and wonders^
the prophet David feems even xp exceed himfelf^
how dofh he there exprefs himfelf in choice
metaphors, even to the atiiazement of a con-
templative reader, concerning the fea, the rivers^
and the fifli therein contained ? And the great
naturalift PUtrf fays, ^^ That naiture^s great and
** wonderful power is more demohftraced in the
** iea than on the land/' And this may appear^
by the numerous and various creatUtes inhabiting
both in and about that element, as to the readers
of Gefner *, Rondiletius -f-, P//»y, Aufonius 4l»
Ariftotle^ and others, may be dcmonftrated. But
«
* Conrade Gtfmr^ of Zurich la SwitKirhnJ, an emineol
phyfician and natoralift, wrote Hiftwia Jnimalium^ Di
SifpeKtum Nafuf-a, and many other works. He died 1565,
aged 49.
t GuiUaumi Roa^elegf an eminent phyiician, born at'
Montpeiier in Langutdcc^ i C07 ; he wrote (ereral books*
and a treatife Z)/ Pi/dhus Marinis ; where all that WtJtou
has taken from him it to be found. He died very poor of
a farfett, occafioned by exceffive eatinf of figs, in 1566.
t Dedus Aufamus^ a native of Bourdeaux^ was a Latin
poety conAil of Rvmiy and preceptor to the emperor QrB^
timttt He died about 390.
I Win
•^a 9*^6^ CoMPLnrt Angler* Pmh
I will fweeten this difcourfe al(b
ih^Tb^da** ^^'^^^ * contemplation in divine
*^' ^» £tfr/^ *5 who fays,
G^i quickened in tbefea and' in the fiverff
So numyfjfyes of fo many features^ '
That in the waters ive may fee aU creatures^
Even all that on the earth are to be founds
As if the world were in deep waters drowned.
JForfeas as well as fides bofoe Sun^ JMboie^ Stars % >
Jls well as ear SwaHowSj Reoks^ and States -f %
As well as earth Vines ^ Rofes^ Nettles^ Melons^
, Mufinrooms^ Pinksy Gilbftowers^ and many mUHonf^r
Of other plants y more r or e^ mare fir ange than thefe^
As veryfi/bes living in the feas :
As alfo Ramsy Ci^esj Horfes^ Hares and HogSf
fVolveSy Urchins^ Lions^ Elephant s^ and Dogs \
Tea men and maidsj and which I mofi admire^
The mitred Bifhop^ and the cowled Frier J-
Of
* GuilloMmsde Salufte Sieur iu Bartas^ was a poet of*grear
rcpotation in H^alton^^ time. He wrote, in Frinch^ a poeni
called Di^ittt Weeks and Works \ from whence thepaiTage in
the text, and' many others cited in this work, .are extrafted.
This, wi& his. other deUgbtful works, was tsrannated inter
Englijb by Jeflmei 8ylwfier» It it bard to fay which is woril^
the poem or the tranilation ; for they are both ejcecrabis
bom baft.
t Or StarUngs, M\T\{i^.
X This ftory of theBifiiop-fiibis told by HondekihtSt ZtA
yoQched by Beilcmut; without taking mueh painrin the
tranflation, it is as follows: '* In the year i$3i» a ffli waa
^' taken in Ptdonia^ that refifefented a bifhop^ he ^as
brought to the king ; but feeming to defire to return to
his own element* the king commanded hiqi to be'car.ried
** back to the fea, into which he immediately threw him*
V ielf." JRWifi^/ii^hadbeforerelatedaftoryofaMonk-fi(h,
which
«<
<<
Chaprl Tie Complete Angleu: ^i
Qfwbicbi exampUs but a few years faue^
fVereJbewn the Norway and Poloniao prince.
. • •
Thefe feem to be wonders* but have had (^
many confirmations from men of learning and
credit) that you need not doubt them ; nor are
the number, nor the various (hapes of fifhesi^
more ftrange or more fit for contemplation, than
their diflferent natures, inclinations and adions i
concerning which I (hall beg your patient ear a
little lonsen
The Guttle-filh will caft a long gut out of het
throat, which, like as an Angler doth his line^
file fendeth forth and puUeth in again at her
pleafure, according as (he fees fome little fifli
€ome near to her \ and the Cut- . . .
tic-fifti ♦, being then hid in the ^J^'^^i^^^^^(\
gravel, lets the fmaller filh nibble ^^^ jhis, *' * "
and bite the end of it, at which
titlie &e ^y little and little draws the fmaller fifll
fo near to her, that (he may leap upon her, and
then catches and devours her : and for this reafon^
fome have called th js fi(h the Sea-angler. *
And there is a fi(h called a Hermit, that at si.
certain age gets into a dead fi(h's (hell, and like
a hermit dwells there alone, ftudying the wind
and weather, skid fo turns her fliell, that (he
makes it defend her from the injuries that they
would bring upon her.
^\AA !s wBat du Bands means by the ** cowled Frier.''
The reader miy fee' the portraits of the(e wonderful per-
fonages in Rondeietius^ or in' the pofthumoas works of the
reverend and learned Mr. J9bn Gregory^ in 4to. Lond. 16S3;
pag. tzi, fai.
D ^ there
34 ^^ Complete An<5Ler. Part I.
There is alfo a fiih, called by jEHan * in his
9th book of Irving creatures, cb. 16. xhtAiGntSj
or Darling of the Sea^ fo called, becaufe it is a
loving and innocent fiu), afifh that hurts nothing
that hath life, and is at peace with all the nume*
rous inhabitants of that»vaft watery clement j
and truly I think moft Anglers are fo difpofcd
to moft of mankind.
And there are alfo luftful and chafte fiflies^ pf
whkh 1 (ball give you examples.
And firft, what du Bartas fays of *a fifh called
the Safgus : which becaufe none can exprefs it bet-
ter than he docs, I Ihall give you in his 6wn words,
fuppofir^ it Ihall not have the lefe credit for being
verfe, for h\r hath gathered this, and other oWcr-
vations out of authors that h^ve been great and
induftrious fearchcrs into the fccrets of naturc%
^be aiuUrous Sargus doth not only cbcmge
Wives every day in the deep- fir eamUy hut fir M^!
As if the honey offea-iove delight
Could not fi/^ce his ranging appetite^
Goes courting ft>t'goats on the grajj^ jhore^
Homing their hujhands that had horns before.
And the lame author writes concerning the
Cantharus^ that which you (hall alfo bear in bis
own words.
But contrary^ the conftant Gantharus
Is ever conftant to his faithful fpoufe^
In nuptial duties fpending his chafte lifCj
Never loves any out his own dear wife*
• Claudius JElianus^ was born at Franefte in Italy^ m
the reign of the Emperor Adrian* He wrote «fc 4nmaHm 5
and on martial difcipline.
Sir,
Chap. I. ^be Complete Akgler. 3^
Sir, but a little longer, and I have done.
Fen. Sir, take what liberty yoa think fit, for
your difcourfe feems to be tnufick, and charms
me to an attention.
Pifc. Why then Sir, I will take a little liberty
to tcl)^ or rather to remember you what is faid
of Turtle doves; firft, that they filently plighc
their troth and marry ; and that then, the fur-
vivor fcorns, as the Tbracian women are faid tot
do, to out-live his or her mate, and this is
taken for a truth ; and if the furvivor (hall ever
couple with another, then not only the living
but the dead, be it either the he or the (he, is
denied the name and honour of a true Turtle-
dove.
And to parallel this land-rarity, and teach
malikind moral faithfulnefs, and to condemn
thole that talk of religion, and yet come fhort
of the moral faith of (i(h and fowl ; men that
violate the law affim^ed by St. Paul, Rom. ii.
14, 15. to be writ in their hearts, and which be
fays, ihall at the laft day condemn and leave
them without excufe. I pray hearken to what
du Bartas fings, for the hearing of . „
fuch conjugal faithfulnefs, will be mu - fi^^ day. '
lick to all chafte ears, and therefore
I pray hearken to what du Barf as fings of the
Mullet.
But far chdfte love the Mullet bath no feer ;
For^ ifthej^herbatbfurpriz^dherpbeer*^
As mad with xooe, to Jhore Jhe followethy
Preft to confort him both in life and death.
• Or Fellow. So Bcd-pheer, -Bcd-fcUow.
Da %i
3^ '37^ Complete Anglei^. Parti.
On the contrary,' what fliall I fay of the
Houfe-coek, which treads any Hen, and then,
, contrary to the Swan^ the Partridge and Pigeon^
takes no care to hatch, to feed or to cherift: his
own brood, but is fenfelefs, though they perilh.
And it is €oi>fiderable, that the Hen, which-
becaufc (he alfo takes any Cock, expefts it not»
who is fupc the chickens be her own, hath by a
moral impreffion her care and affedion to her
own brood more liban' doubled, even* to fuch a-
height,' that our Saviour, in expreffing his love
to Jerufalem^ MdtL xxiii. 37. quotes her for aiv
example of tender affcSion 5 as his Father had-
done Job for a pattern of patience.
And to parallel this Cock, there be divers^
fifhes that caft their fpawn on flags or flones, and
then lea^e it uncovered, and expofed to becomcai^
a prey, and be devoured by vermin, or other
fifties; but other fifties, as nanaely the Barbel^-
take fuch care for the prefervation of their fced^
that, unlike to the Cock or the Cuckoe,^^ they mu-
tually labour, both the fpawner and the melter^
ti> eov^ their fpawn with fand, or watch it»
or hide it in fornc fecrct placey unfrequented by
vermih,. or by any fifli but themfelves.
Sir, thcfc examples may, to you and others,,
frem ftpange v but they arc tcftified fome by
Arijlotk^ fome by Pliny ^ fome by Gefner^ and;,
by marry others of credit, and are believed and
known by' divers, both of wifdom- and ei^cri^
ence, to be a truth-,' and indeed are, as I- faid
at the beginning, fit for the contemplation of a
mod ferious and a moft pious.man. And doubt -
lefs this made the prophet David fay, '♦ They?
•* ihat occupy thedifeivcsi in deep waders, fee the'
" won-
.^ \
Cl^ap- 1* Ti^ CoMPtET^ Angler; 37
" wonderful works of God :" indeed fuch won-
ders and pleafures too, as the4and affords not.
And that tbey be fit for the contemplation of
the moft prudent, and pious, ^and peaceable men,
fcems jx> be .tcAlfied by the pra/^ice of fo many
devout and contemplative men« as the Patri-
archs and Prophets of old, and of the Apoftles
of our Saviour in our latter times ; of which
twelve, we are fure he chofe four that were fim-
ple fifhermen, whom he infpired and fent to
publifb his bleflcd will to the Gtntiles^ and in-
fpired them alfo with a power to fpeak all lan-
guages, and by their powerfol eloquence to beget
faith in the unbeliieviDg Jews: and themfelves to
fuffer for that Saviour, whom their fore- fathers
and they had crucified ; and, in their fufiTcrings^
CO preach freedom frpm the incumbrances of the
law, and a new way to everlafting life* This
was the employment of thefe happy fiflicrmen,
coivpef ning which choice, fon^e have made thefe
obfervatioQs.
Firft, That he never reproved thefe for their
employment or <:alling, as he did Scribes and
the Money-changers. And fecondly. He found
that the hearts of fuch men by nature were fitted
for contemplation and quietnefs ; men of mild,
and fweet, and peaceable fpirits, as indoed mo(t
Anglers are : thefe men our blcfled Saviour^
who is obferved to love to plant grace in good
Datures, though indeed nothing be too hard for
him, yet thefe men he chofe to call from their
irreprovable employment of fiftiing, and gave
them grace to be his difciples, and to follow hiff^
^d do wonders % 1 fay four pf j^welvf.
D 3 ^nd
3fS The Complete Angler. Parti.
And it is obfervable, that it was out* Saviour's
will, that thefe our four fiftiermcn fhould have
a priority or nomination in the catalogue of- his
twelve Apoftles, Man. x. as namely, firft St.
Peter J St. Andrew ^^ St. James^ and St. JohUy and
then the reft in their order.
And it is yet more obfervable, that when our
blefled Saviour went up into the mount, when
he left the reft of his difciples,, and chofe only-
three to bear him company at his Transfigura-
Yion, that thofe three were all fifhermen. And
il is to be believed, that alt the other Apoftles,
after they betook themfelves to follow Cbrijty
betook themfelves to be fiihermen too ; for it is
certain, that the greater number of them were
found tpgether^ fiftiing by Jefus after his refur-
reftion, as it is recorded in the aift chapter of
St. Johff% gofpeL
And fince I have your promife to hear me with
patience, I will take a liberty to look back upon
an obfervation that hath been made by an inge^
nious and learned man, who obferves, that God
hath been pleafed to allow thofe, whom he him-
felf hath appointed to write his holy will in holy-
writ, yet, CO exprefs his will in fuch metaphors
as their former affeftions or pra<9:ice had inclined
them to ; and be brings Solomon for an example,,
who before his converfion was remarkably car-
nally amorous ; and after by God's appointnient,
wrote that fpiritual dialogue or holy amorous
Ibve-fong the Canticles^ betwixt God and his
church ; in which he fays, his belovec} had eyes
like the filh-pools of Hejhbon.
And if this hold in rcafon, as I fee none to
the contrary, then it may be probably concluded,
' ^ ' that
Chap. I. Tie Complete Angler. 39
that Mojes^ who, I toid you before, writ the
book of Joby and the prophet Amos^ who was z
(hepherd, were botH Anglers ; for you (hall
in all the Old Teftamenc find filh hooks, I think
but twict mentioned, namely, by meek Alofes
the friend of God, and by the humble prophet
Concerning which lad, namely, the prophet
Amos^ 1 fliall make but this obfervacion, that he
that (hall read the humble, lowly, plain (lile of
that prophet, and compare it with the high,
gk)rious, eloquent ftile of the prophet Ifaiabj
though they be both equally true, may eafily
believe Amos to be, not only a (hepherd, but ;i
good-natured plain-fiiherman.
Which I dovthe rather believe, by comparing
the aflfe&ionate, loving, lowly, humble epiftles
of St, Peter^ St. James^ and St. Jobn^ whom
we know were all fifliers, with the glorious
language and high metaphors of St. Paul^ who
we may believe was not.
And for the lawfulnefs of (i(hing, it may very
well be maintained by our Saviour's bidding St.
Piter caft his hook into the water and catch a
fifl), for money to pay tribute to Cafar. And
let me tell you, -that Angling is of high efteem,
and of much ufe in other nations. He that
reads the voyages of Ferdinand Mendez Pinto *,
fhall find, that there he declares to have found
a king and feveral priefts a Hfhing.
And he that reads Plutarch. Hiall find that
Angling was not contemptible in the days of
Mirk AntofPf and Cleopatra, and that they in the
• A traveller, wbofe veracity is much queftioned.
• D 4 midfl:
fnidd of their wonderful glory ufed Angling as a
principal recreation. And let me tell you, that
In the Scripture, Angling is always taken in the
beft fenfe; and that though hunting may be fome-
times fo taken, ypt it is but feldom to be fo
tinderftpod. And let me add this more, he that
views the ancient ecclefiaftical canons, (hall find
]iiunting to be forbidden to church-men, as being
a turbulent, toilfome, perplexing recreation;
and (hall find Angling allowed to clergymen;
us being a harmlefs recreation, a recreation that
invites them to contemplation and quietnefs.
I might hpre enlarge myfelf by telling you,
what cpmmendations our learned Perkins be-
ftows on Angling ; and how dear a lover, an4
great a pradtifer of it our learnpd Dr. Wbitaker *
was, as indeed m^iny others of great learning
have been. But I will pontent myfelf with two
memorable men, that lived near to our own.
time, whom I alfo take (p haye been ornament^
%o the art of Angling.
The flrft \%iyt.Nowel, fomctimes dean
^^^°* of the cathedral church of St. Paul's in
London^ where his monument ftands yet unde*
faced f ; a man that in the reformation of Queen
' • ^Uzabetb:^
* Perkins and Wbitaker were two eminent diviaes of th<$
beginning of the laft centary ; the latter was a very learne^
man. See his life in Fuller*s Holy State,
t l^r.Jlexaniier Newel* a learned divine and a famous
preacher in the reign of King Edw. VI. upon whofe death
he, with many other Protefiants, fled to Germany * where he
li^ed many years. In 1561 he was made dean of St. PWs:
and in 1601 died. The monument mentioned in the text '
was undoubtedly con fumed with the church in the fire of
f^onden; but the infcription thereon is preferved in Stowe*s
^ f/ . . ' • Syrvey^
Chap. I. ^Ti^^ CoMPLETB AhglerT 44
Elizabeth^ not that of Henry VIII. was fo noted
for his meek fpiric, deep learning, prudence and
piety, that the then parliament and convocation
both, chofe, enjoined, and trufted him to be the
man to make a catechifm for publick ufe, fuch
a one as (bould ftand as a rule for faith and
manners to their pofterity. And the good old
jnan, though he was very learned, yet knowing
that God leads us not to heaven by many nor
by hard queftions, like an honeft Angler, made
that good, plain, unperplexed catechifm which
is printed with our good old Service-book. I
fay, this good man was a dear lover, and con-
stant pra£tifer of Angling, as any age can pro*
duce ; and his cuilom was to ^nd befides his
fixed hours of prayer, thofe hours which by
command of the church were enjoined the clergy,
and voluntarily dedicated to devotion by many
primitive Chriftians : 1 fay, befides thofe hours,
this good man was obferved to fpend a tenth
part of his time in Angling; and alfo, for I
j^ave converfed with thofe which have converfed
with him, to beftow a tenth part of his revenue,
and ufually all his fifh, amongft the poor that
inhabited near to thofe rivers in which it was
<;aught : faying often, " That charity gave life
V to religion :" and at his return to his houfc,
would praife God he had fpent that day free
ffom worldly t)roub]e \ both harnilefsly, and in
Sprvey, edit. 1655^ pag, 362. See ^ibm. Oxon, 3 13*
Tbe reader will obferve, that it is the author, and not
the editor who is fpeaking ; and that the adverb yet refers
a the time when this pafTage was firft written, vix. about
1653 ; for in that vear the firft edition of. this book was
publifl^d.
a
^f W^ Complete ANCLift. Parti;
a recreation thac^ became a churcJiitiah. And
ihis good man w^ well content^ if not defiroas^
that pofterity (hould know he was an Angler, as
' may appear by his pidtire, now to be feen^ and
carefully kept in Brazen-mfe College^ to which he
waa a liberal benefador ; in which picture be is
drawn leaning on a deik with his Bible before
him, and on one hand oi him his lines, hooks,
and other tackling lying in a round ; and on bift
other hand are his Angle-rods of feveral forts :
and by them this is written, " That he died Fek.
** 13, 1601, being aged 95 years, 44 of which
** he had been dean of St. P^^/'s-church ; and
^ that his age had neither impaired his hearing,
♦* nor dimmed his eyes, nor weakened his mc-»
*• mory, nor made any of the faculties of his
^ mind weak or ufclefs." It is faid that Angling
and temperance were great caufes of thefe blef-
'fings, and I wiih the like to all that imitate him,
and love the memory of fo good a man.
My next and laft example ihall be that under*
valuer of money, the late provoft oiEton Colkgty
Sir Henry Wotton *, a man with whom I have
often filhed and converfed ; a man whofe foreign
employments in the fervice of this nation, and
whofe experience, learning, wit and chearfulnefs,
made his company to be eftcemed one of the
delights of mankind ; this man, whofe very ap-
probation of Angling were fufficient to convince
any modeft ccnfurer of it, this man was alfo a
moft dear lover, and a frequent pradifer of the art
of Angling -, of which be would fay, ** It was
*' an employment for his idle time, which was
* Of whom fee an account in the life of Waltxtn,
" then
cc
iC
Ch«p. I. 91&^ Complete Akoler. ^,^
" then not idly fpent :" for Angling was, after
tedious ftudy, *' a reft to his mind, a chcarerof
*' his fpirits, a divcrter of fadncfs, a calmer of
«* unquiet thoughts, a moderator of paflions, a
" procurer of ^ontcntcdncfs :" and *« that ic
begat habits of peace and patience in thofc
that profeffcd and praftifed it." Indeed, my
friend, you will find Angling to be like the virtue
of humility, which has a calmnefs of jpirit, and
a world of other bleffings attending upon it.
Sir, this was the faying of that learned man %
and I do cafily believe that peace, and patience,
and a calm content, did cohabit in the chearfol
heart of Sir Henry fVotton ; becaufe I know that
when he was beyond feveiity years of age, he
made this defcription of a part of the prefent
pleafure that poflefled him, as he fat quietly in
a fummer's evening on a bank a fiflbing ; it is
a defcription of the fpring, which, becaufe it
glided as foft and fweetly from his pen, as that
river does at this time, by which it was theft
made, I (hall repeat it unto you.
This day dame Nature feenfd in love :
The lufty fap began to move ;
Ft eft) juice didftir tV embracing Vines^
And birds bad drawn their Valentines*
^he jealous Trout, thai low did lie^
'Rofe at a well-dijembled fie ;
There Jlood my friendj with patient Jkill^
Attending of his trembling auilh
Already were the eaves poj/eft
With the fwift Pilgrim's * daubed neft :
The Swallow.
the
;44 ^i^ Complete Angler, F^C I*
^he groves already did rejoice^
Jn PhilomelV triumphing voice :
Tbejhowers werejhort^ the weather mild^
^be morning frejh^ the evening fmiPd.
Joan takes her neat-rubFd pail^ and no%9
She trips to milk the fand-red Cow ;
Where ^ for fome fturdy foot-ball fwain^
Joan flrokes a fyllabub or twain.
The fields and gardens were befet
With "Tulips^ Crocus^ Violet ;
And now, though late, the modefl Rofe^
Did more than half a hlufh difclofe.
^hus all looks gay, and full of chear^
To welcome the new-liverfdyear.
Thefe were the thoughts tfiat then pofleft th^
undifturbed mind of Sir Henry JVotton. Will
you hear the wifli of another Angler, and th^
commendation of his happy life which he alfg
iings in verfc ? viz. Jof Davors, Efq;
Let me live harmlefsly, and near the brink
O/* Trent or Avon have a dwelling-place % . • _
Where I may fee my quill or cork down fink
With eager bite of Perch, or Bleak, or Dace^
And on the world and my Creator think •,
Whilft fome men firive ill-gotten goods f embrace
And others fpend their time in bafe excefs
Of wine, or worfe, in war and wantonnefs.
Let them that lijl, thefe paflimes flill purfue^
And on fuch pleafmg fancies feed their fill,
Sol the Fields and Meadows green may view^
And daily by frefh Rivers walk at will.
Among the Daifie$ and the Violets blue.
Red Hyacinth, and yellow Daffodil,
Purple
Purptt Narcijfus like the morning rays
Pale Gander grafs J and azure Cuher-keyes.
I count it higher pleafure to behold
The flat efy compafs of the toftyjky^
And in the midji thereof^ tike burMng gold^
The flaming cbatiot of the world's great eye^
The watry clouds^ that in the air up rolNj
tVithfundry kinds of painted colours fly \
And fair Aurora lifting up her head^ .
Still ilif/hihg^ rife from old Tichonus ied.
The hills and mountains taifedfrom the plains ^
The plains extended level with the ground^
The grounds divided into fundry veins^
The veins inclosed with rivers running round \
Tbefe riiiers making way through nature^ s chains
With headlong courfe into the fea profound \
The raging fea^ beneath' the vallies loWy
Where lakes and rills ^ and rivulets dofloiv.
The lofty woods ^ the for efts wide and longj
Adorned with leaves and branches frefb and greeff^
In whofe cool bowers the birds with many a fong^
Do welcome with their quire the fummer's ^een 9
The meadows fair where FloraV gifts among
Are intermixt^ with verdant grafs between.
The filver fcaled fifh that foftly fwim
Within the fweet brook" s cryftal^ watry ftreaffr.
All thefcy and many more of his creation ,
That made tbi heavens.^ tl^e Angler oft doth fee \
Taking therein no little delegations
To think how ftrdnge, how ^wonderful they be ;
Framing thereof an inward contemplationy
To fet bisjbeart from other fancies free \
And
4^ Tbe Coup tnru At^cLtm. Parti.
^nd whilft he looks en tbefe withjc^ful eye^
His mind is wrapt ab(foe thejiarryjky.
Sir, I am glad my memory has not loft thefc
laft vcries^ becaufe they are fomewhat more
pleafant and more fuitablc to May-day^ than my
harlh difcourfe ; and I am glad your patience
hath held out fo long, as to hear them and me ;
for both together, have brought us within the ,
fight of the Thatch^d-houfe : and I muft be your
debtor, if you think it worth your atten-
tion, for the reft of my promifed drfcourfe, till
fome other opportunity, ar\d a liLle time of lei-
fure.
Fen. Sir, you have Angled me on with much
f\t2Sutc to tht ThaUh^d'boufe i and now I find
your words true, ** That good company makes
*« the way feem fliort ;" for truft me. Sir, I
thought we had wanted three miles of this houfe
till you (hewed it to me : but now we are at it,
we*ll turn into it, and refrcfh ourfelves with
a cup of drink and a little reft.
Pifc. Moft gladly. Sir, and we'll drink a
civil cup to all the Otter-hunters that arc to
meiJt you to-morrow.
Fen. That we will, Sir, and to all the lovers
of Angling too, of which number I am now
willing to be one myfelf ; for by the help of
your good difcourfe and company, I have put on
new thoughts both of the art of Angling, and
of all that profefs it : and if you vr'41 but meet
me to-morrow at the time and plac? appointed,
and beftow one day with me and my friends in
hunting the Otter, I will dedicate the nexMwo
days to wait upon you, and we two will for that
ti'me
f
Chap. L ^h Complete Angler; "if
time do nothing but Angk, and talk of fifli and
fifliing.
Pifc. It is a match. Sir, I will not fail you,
God willing, to be at Amwellbill to-morrow
morning before fun*rifing.
CHAP. II.
i^bfervattMs of the Ottek and Ch tJ b.
Venator.
MY friend PifiatoTj you ha^ kept time
with my thoughts, for the fun is juft
rifing, and I myfelf juft now come to
this place, and the dogs have juft now put down
an Otter. Look down at the bottom of the hill
there in that meadow, chequered with Water-
lillies and Lady-fmocks ; there you may fee what
work diey make : look, look, you may fee all
bufy, men and dogs, dogs and men all bufy.
Pifi. Sir, I am right glad to meet you, and.
ghd 00 have fo fair an entrance into this day's
iport, and glad to fee fo many dogs, and more
men all in purfuit of the Otter ; let us compli-
ment no longer, but join unto them ; come ho-
neft Venaiar^ let us be gone, let us make hafte ;
I kng to be doing : no reafonable hedge or ditch
fliall hold me.
F£n. Gendemen Huntfmen, where found you
this Otter ?
Hunt.
'ff.i ^ke Complete A^nttK: PtLttf}
Hunt. Marry, Sir, we found her a mile from
this place a fiihing : (he has this morning eaten
the greateft part of this Trout 5 (he has only left
thus much of.it as you fee, and was fifhing for
more j when we came we found her juft at it :
but we were here very early, we were here an
hour before fun-rife, and have given her no reft
fince we came ; fure Ihe will hardly cfcape all
thefe dogs and men. I am to have the fkin if
we kill her.
Fen. Why, Sir, what is the fkin .worth?
Hunf. It is worth ten (hillings to make gldVe^
the gloves of ^an Otter, are the beft fortification
for your hands that can be thought on againft
wet weather.
Pifc. I pray, honeft Huntfmah, let mi a(k yd(i
a pleafant queftion, Do you hunt a beaft or a
fifli ?
Hunt. Sir, it is not in my power to refolvfe
you ; I leave it to be refolved by the college of
Cartbufiansj who have made vows never to eat
fle(h. But I have heard, the queilion hath been
debated among many great clerks, and they
feem to differ about it ; yet moft agree that her
tail is fi(h : and if her body be fi(h too, then I
may fay, that a fi(h will walk upon land, for art
Otter does fo fometimes five or fix, or ten milea^
in a night to catch for her young. ones, or to
glut herfelf with fi(h, and I can tell you that
JPigeons will fiy forty miles for a breakfai^ ; but
Sir, I am fure the Otter devours much fi(hj and
kills and fpoils much more than he eats : and I
cm tell you, that this dog-fiflber, for fo the I.a-
tins cair himi can fmell a fi(h in the water ads
hundred
Chip. II. The CoMP^LETE Angler. 49
hundred yards from him : Gefner fays much far-
ther, and that his (tones are good againft the fall-
ing-ficknefs : and that there is an herb Bemone^
which being hung in a linen cloth near a fi(h*
pond, ^ any haunt that he ufes, makes him to
avoid the place ; which proves he fmells both by
water and land; and 1 can tell you there is
brave hunting this water-dog in Cornwall^ where
there have been fo many, that our learned Cam-
den fays, there is a river called Qtterfey^ which
was fo named, by reafon of the abundance of
Otters that bred and fed in it.
And thus much for my knowledge of the
Otter, which you may now fee above water at
vent, and the dogs clofe with him *, I now fee
he will not laft long, follow therefore, my mafters,
follow, for Sweet^^ was like to have him at
this laft vent.
Ven. Oh me, aU the horfe are got over the
river, what (hall we do now ? Ihall we follow
them over the ;^ater.
Hunt. No, Sir, no, be not Vq eager, day a
little and follow me, for both they and the dogs
will be fuddenly on this fide again, I warrant
you ; and the Otter too, it may be : now have
at him with Kilbuck^ for he vents again.
Ven. Marry fo he does^ for look he vents in .
that corner. Now, now Ringw&od has him 5
now he is gone again, and has bit the poor dog.
Now Sweettips has her 5 hold her SweetUps ! now
all the dogs have her, fome above and fome un-
der water ; but now, now fhq is tired, and paft
lofing : conie bring her to me, SweetUps. Look,
it is a Bitchotter, and (he has lately whelped,
E let's
50 ^be Complete Angler. Parti.
let's go to the place where flie was put down,
and not far from it you will find all her young
ones, I dare warrant you, and kill them all too.
Hunt. Come, gentlemen, come all, let's go
to the place where we put down the Otter. Look
you, hereabout it was that Ihe kennelled ; look
you, here it was indeed, for here is her young
ones, no lefs than five ; come let us kill then\
all. .
Fife. No, I pray Sir, fave me one, and TU
try if I can make her tamei, as I know an in^
gcnious gentleman in Lekejierjhire^ Mr. Nicb.
Seagravey has done ; who hath not only made
her tame, but to catch filh, and do many other
things of much pleafure.
HunL Take one with all my h^eart, but let
us kill the reft. And now let's go to an honeft
ale-houfe, w^ere we may have a cup of good
barley-wine, ;and fing Old Rofe, and all of us
rejoice together.
Fenai: Come, my friend Pifcafor, let me inr
vite you along with us % I'll bear your charges
this night, and you (hall bear mine to-morrow ^
for my intention is to accompany you a day or
two in fifliing.
Pifc. Sir, your requeft is granted, and I ihall
be right glad, both to exchange fuch a courtefy,
and al.fo to enjoy your company.
f^enaf. Well, npw let's go to yoy.r fport of
Angling.
Pifc. Let's be going with all my heart. God
k.eep you all, gentlemen^ and fend you meet this
jday with another Sitph-otter, and kill her mer-
xilyp aijid Alji her jroung p.nc.s top.
r'
Chap. IT. The Complete Anoler. 51
Venat. Now, Pifcatofj wJiere will you begin
to filh ?
Pifc. Wc arc not yet come to a likely
pflace, I muft walk a mile farther yet, before 1
begH).
Venat, .Well then, I pray, as we walk tell
me freely, how do you like your lodging, and
mine hoft, and the company ? is not mine hoft
a witty man ?
Pifc. Sir, I will tell you prefcntly what I
think of your hoft ; but firft I will tell you, I
am glad thefe Otters were killed, and I am (brry
there are no more Otter-killers : for I know that
the want of Otter-killers, and the not keeping
the fence-months for the prefervation of fi(b,.
will in time prove the deftruAion of all rivers ;
and thofe very few that are left, that make con-
fcience of the laws of the nation, and of keep-
ing daysof abftinence, will be forced to eat flelh,
or fufl^r more inconveniencies than are yet fore-
feen.
Venat. Why, Sir, what be thc^e that you
call the fence months ?
Pifc. Sir, they be prmcipally three, namely,
Marchj Aprils and A^ \ for thefe be the ufual
months that Salmon come out of the fea to
fpawfi ill moft f re(h rivers, and their fry would
about a certain time return back to the falt-wa-
fer, if they were not hindered by wires and un-
lawful gins, which the greedy filhermen fet,
and fo deftroy them by thoufands, as they would,
being fo taught by nature^ change the fre(h for
ialt-water. He that (hall view the wife ftatutes
liiade in the 13th of Edward I. and the like in
E 2 Richard
gt ^be CoHPi;.iTE Angler. PartL
Ricbard IH. may fee feveral provifions made
againfi: the deftrudfcion of fiih : and though I .
prbfefs no knowledge of the law, yet I am furc
the regulation of tbelib defcds might be eafily
mended. But I remember that a wife friend of
mine did ufually lay, " Th.at which is evc;ry
*.' body's bufincfs, is no body's bufinefs." If ii^
vere otherwife, there could not be fo many net$
and fifh that are under the ftatute-fize fold
daily amongft us, and of which .th^ CQnferyator$
of the waters ihould be afliamed.
But above alj, the taking fiih in fpawningr
time, may be &id to be againO: nature^ it i^^
like the taking the dam on the neft when fh^
l^atches her young : a Gn fo againft: nature, thaj:
Almighty God bath in the Levifical law made
a law againll: it.
But the poor fi(h have enemies enough beri4e
iuch unnatural fifliermen, as namely, the Otter$:
that I fpake of, the Cormorant, the Bittern, the
rOfpray, the Sea-gull, the Hern, the King-fiflier^
the Gorara, the Puet, the Swan, Goqfe, Oucks^
and the Craber, which fome call the Water-rat ^
^ainft all which, any honed man may make ^
juQ; quarrel ; b|Ut I will not, I will le^ve them tp
be quarrelled with, and killed by others; for j
am nQt of a cruel nature;, I love to jkill nqthiiijg
but fifli.
And now to yourqueftion concerning your
hoft ; to fpeak truly, he is not to me a good:
omipanion : for moft of his, conceits were either
Xcriptpre jeft?, qr .lafciytQus jefts ; for which I
coqnt no man witty, for the devil will help ^
^mgn ,(hat ^zy inclined^ to the firft % and his own
jcorrupt
Chap. IL The CoMPLtts AN6LiR. 53
corrupt nature, which he always carries with htmt
to the latter ; but a companion that feafts the
company with wit and mirth, and leaves out the
fin which is ufually mixed with them, he is tbfe
than I and indeed fuch a companion fhould have
his chai^;es borne, and to fuch company I hope to
bring you this night ; for at Troki-lmlif noc far
from this place, where I purpofe to lodge tonight^
there is ufttally an angler that proves good com-
pany : and let me tell you, good company and
good difcourfe are the very finews of virtue : but
for fuch difcourfe as we heard laft night, it infects
others, the very boys will learn to talk and fwear
as they heard mine hoft, and another of the
company that Ihall be namelefs ; I am forry the
other is a gentleman, for lefs religion will ao|
fave their fouls than a beggar's ; I think tnort
will be required at the laft great day. WeU, you
know what example is able to do, and I know
what the poet fays in the like cafe, which h
worthy to be noted by all parents and people of
civility.
Mury a one
Owes to bis country bis religion :
And in anotber would asftrongly groWj
Had but bis nurfe or mother taugbt bimfo.
Thi^ is reafon put into verfe, and worthy the
confideratkm of a wife man. But of this no
more, for though I love civility, yet I hate fevere
cenfures: PU co^^my own art^and I doubt not
but at yonder tre€ I (hall catcl^ a Chub, and then
we'll turn to in honeft ..ci«anly hofte&, that I
E"3 know
'$^ ^^'tJoMPtETE A^TCEER. Part f.
indeed to reft tfiyfelf too ; for though I have
walked but four, miles this morning, yet I begia
to be weary ;' ycftcrday's hunting hangs ftill up-
oh me.
Pifc. Well, Sir, and you (hall quickly be at
reft, for yonder is the houfe. I mean to bring
you to. ' r i ^
Come, hoftefs, how do you ? Will you firft
give us a cup of your beft drink, and then drefe
this Chub, as you dreffed my laft^-when I and
my friend were here about eight or ten days
ago ? but youjmuft do me one courteff, k muft
be done inftantly.
Hoft. I will do it, Mr. Pifcator^ and with, all
the fpeed I can.
Ptfc. Now, Sir, has not my hoftefs made .
hafte ? and does not the fifti look lovely ?
Ven. Both, upon my word. Sir, and therefore
let's fay grace, and fall to eating of it. .
. Pifc. Well, Sir, bow do you like it ? .
Vm* Truft noe, 'tis as good meat as I ever
tafted : now let me thank you for it, drink to
you, r^nd beg a courte^ of you ; but it muft
mt be -denied me.
Pifc. What is it, I pray, Sir ? you are fc^ mo-
deft, th%t niethinks 1 may promife to grant ir
before it is' aflced.
Vm^ Why, Sir, it is, that from' henceforth,
ypu would lallow me tQ call you mafter, and that
really I vmy be, your fcholar \ for you are fuch a
companion, and have fo quickly caught, and (b .
excelientiy cooked this fift), as makes m& ambi-
tious to be your fcholar.
Pifc. (iive me your hand ; from this time
forward I will be your matter, and teach you as
^' - 2 - much
Pab ?Accordmg t* A<ft of Ruliam? t-J^^
' \
Chap. III. The CompItEtb Anolbr. 57
much of this art as I am able ; and wilU as you
defire me, tell you fomewhat of the nature of
moft of the filh that we are to angle for, and I
am fure I both can and will tell you more than
any common angler yet knows.
CHAP. III.
B(fw tojljh/or, and to dreft the C h av e n«
D£Rj or Chub.
Pjscator.
TH E Chub, though be eat well thus drefled»
yet as he is ufuall]^ drefled, he does not :
he is objeded againft, not only for being
full of fmall forked bones, difperfed through all
his body, but that he eats waterilh, and that
the fle(h of him is not firm, but (hort and ufte*
kfs. 'Fhe French efteem him {o mean, as tp
call him Un Villain\ neverthelels he may be fo
drefled, as to make him very good meat ; as
namely, if he be a large Chub, then drefs him
thus?
Firil fcale him, and then wafh him clean, and
then take out his guts ; and to that end make the
hole as little and near to his gills as you may cc^ ,
veniently ; and efpecially make clean his throat
from the grafs and weeds that are ufually in it,
for if that be not very clean, it will make him to
tafte very four -, having fo done, put fome fweet
herbs into his belly, and then tie him with two
y three fplinters to a fpit, and roaft him, baftcd
often
58 Tife Complete Akglhr. Parti.
often with vinegar, or rather verjuice and butter,
with good (lore of fait mixed with it.
*Being thus drefied, you will find him a much
better di(h of meat than you, or moft folks, even
than anglers themfelves, do imagine ; for this
dries up the fluid watery humour with which all
Chubs do abound.
But take this rule with you, that a Chub,
newly taken and newly drelTed, is fo much better
than a Chub of a day's keeping after he is dead,
ihai I can compare him to nothing fo fitly as to
Cherries newly gathered from a tree, and others
that have been bruifed and lain a day or two in
water. But the Chub being thus ufed and dreflfed
prefently, and not walhed after he is gutted ; for
;ioce, that lying long in water, and wafhing tHe
blood out of any fi(h after they be gutted, abates
Tiiuch of their fweetnefs, you will find the Chub,
being drefied in the blood and quickly, to be
fnch meat as will recompenfe your labour, and
difabufe your opinion.
Or you may drefs the Chavender or Chub
thus :
When you have fcaled him, and cut off. his
tail and fins, and wafhed him very clean, then
chine or flit him through the middle, as a (Ht*
fifli is ufually cut; then give him three or four
cuts or fcotches on the back with your knife,
$f\d broil him on charcoal, or wood-coal, that
are free from fmoke •, and all the time he is
broiling, bafte him with the beft fweet butter,
and good ftore of.fah mixed with it ; and to this
;add a little thyme cut exceeding fmall, or bruifed
into the butter. The ChCven thus drefled, hath
the watery tafte taken away, for which fo many
except
Chap. III. 77^ Complete Angler. 59
except againft him. Thus was theChiven drefled
that you now liked fo well, and commended fo
much. But note again, that if this Chub that
you eat of, had been kept till to-morrow, lye
had not been worth a mfli. And remember that
his throat be walhed very clean, I fay very clean,
and his body not waOied after he is gutted, as
indeed no fi(h fliould be.
Well, fcholar, you fee what pains I have
taken to recover the lol^ credit of the poor
defpUed Chub. And now I will give you fomc
rules how to catch him ; and I am glad to enter
you into the art of fifhing by catching a Chub,
for there is no fifli better to enter a young
^ angler, he is fo eafily caught, but then it muft
be this particular way.
Go to the fame hole in which I caught my ,
Chub, where in moft hot days you will find a
dozen or twenty Chevens floating near the top
of the water; get two or three gramoppers as you
go over the meadow, and get iecretly behind the
tree, and ftand as free from motion as is poffible ;
then put a gra(hopper on your hook, and let
your hook hang a quarter of a yard (hort
of the water, to which end you muft reft your
rod on ibme bough of the tree ; but it is likely
the Chubs will (ink down towards the bottom of
the water at the firft (hadow of your rod, for a
Chub is the fearfuleft of fifties, and will do fo
if but a biitl flies over him, and makes the lead
ihadowon the water-, but they will prefently rife
up to the top agam, and there lie foaring till
fome (hadow affrights them again -, I fay, when
they lie upon the top of the water, look out the
bcfl; Chub, which you, fctting yourfclf in-a fit
place.
^ the CoMt>LBTE Akgler. PartL
i
place, may very eafily fee, and move your rod
as fofcly as a fnail moves, to that Chub you
intend to catch ^ let your bait fail gently upon
the water three or four inches before him, and
he will infallibly uke the bait, and you will be
as fore to catch him ; for he is one of the lea-
ther-mouthed filhes, of which a hook does fearce
ever lofe its hold, and therefore give him play
enough before you o6fer to take him out of the
water. <jo your way prefently, take my rod,
and do as I bid you, and I will (it down and
mend my tackling till you return back.
Ven. Truly, my loving mafter, you have of-
fered me as fair as I could wifh. I'll go and
obfcrve your direftions.
Look you, matter, what I have done ! that
which joys my heart, caught juft fuch another
,Chub as your's was.
Pifc. Marry, and I am glad of it : I am like
to have a towardly fcholar of you. I now fee,
that with advice and pradice you will make an
angler in a fhort time. Have but a love to it,
Md rU warrant you.
Ven. But, matter, what if I could not have
found a graihopper ?
Pifc. Then 1 may tell you, that a black fnail,
with his belly flit, to ttiew his white ; or a piece
of foft cheefe, will ufually do as well:' nay,
fometimes a worm, or any kind of fly, as the
ant-fly, the flcfli-fly, or walUfly, or the dor
or beetle, which you may And under cow-dung,
or a bob, which you will And in the fame place,
and ip time will be a beetle ; it is a (bort white
worm, like to and bigger than a gentle, or a
^d'^orm, or a cafe-worm \ any of thef$ wilt
do
Chap. III. Tbi CoMPkiTB Akclir. 6x
do yeiy well to fiQi in fuch a manocr. And
after this manner you msiy catch a Trout in a hot
evening : when, as you walk by a brook, and
ihall fee or hear him leap at flies, then, if you gee
a gralhppper, put it on your hook, with your
li^ about two yards long, (landing behind a buih
or tree where his hole is, and make your bait
ftir up and down on the top of the water : you
may, if you ftand clofe, befure.of a bite, but
not fure to catch him, for he is not a leather*
;nouthed filh : and after this manner you m^y
fiib for him with almoft any kind of live fly,
;but efpecially with a gralhopper.
Ven. But before you go further, I pray, good
mailer, what mean you by a leather-mouthed
Pifc. By a kather-mouthed fifli, I mean
fuch as have their teeth in their throat, as the
.Chub or Cheven, and fo the Barbel, the Gud*
geon and Carp, and divers others have ; and the
hook being duck into the leather or fkin of the
moutli of fuch fifl), does very feldom or never
lofe its hold : but, on the contrary, a Pike, a
t^earch, or Trout, and fo fome other fi(fa, which
bave not their teeth in their throats but in their
mouths, which >you (hall obferve to be very full
of bones, and the fkin very thin, and little of
it : I fay, pf thefe ii(b the hook never takes fo
fure hold, but you often lofe your fifh, unlefa
iie have gorged it.
Ven. I thank you, good mafter, for this ob-
fervation ; but now, what (hall be done with my
rChub or Cheven that I hav^ caughtf
Pifc. Marry, Sir, it (hall be given away t^
;fome poor body, for I'll warrant ypu Y\\ give
you
6t Tife Complete Angler. PartL
you a Trout for your fupper : and it is a good
beginning of your art to cmcr your firft-fruits to
the poor, who will both thank God and you for
it, which I fee by your fiience you feem to con-
fent to. And for your wilHngnefs to part with
it fo charitably, I will alfo teach more concerning
Chub-fiftiing: you are to note, that in March
and April he is ufually taken with worms •, in
May^ Juney and July he will bite at any fly, or
at cherries, or at beetles < with their legs and
wings cut off, or at any kind of fhail, or at the
black bee that breeds in clay-walls ; and he never
refufes a grafliopper on the top of ix fwift
ftream *, nor at the bottom the young humble-
bee that breeds in long grafs, and is ordinarily
found by the mower of^it. In Augufty and in
the cooler months, a yellow pafte, made of the
ftrongcft ehecfe, and pounded in a mortar with
a little butter and fafFron, fo much of it, as be-
ing beaten fmall, will turn it to a lemon colour.
And fome make a pafte for the winter-months,
at which time the Chub is accounted beft; for
then it is obferved, that the forked bones are
loft or turned into a kind of griftle, efpecially if
he be baked, of chcefe and turpentine ; he will
bite aMb at a mitinow or penk, as a Trout will :
of which ! (hall tell you more hereafter, and of
divers other baits. But take this for a rule, that
in hot weather he is to be fifhcd for towards the
mid-water, or near the top ; and in colder wea-
• In tlie Thentes^ above Richmond, the beft way of ofinjf
the gra(hop{lcr for CKab, is to |]& with it as with an arti-r
ficial fly ; the firil joints of the legs mud be pinched ofF:
and in this way, when the weed is rotten, which is feldoni
sill Seftmbtr^ the largeil Dace are taken*
dier
Chap. III. T'be CoMPCBTE Amcler. 6i
ther nearer the bottom. And if you fifli for
him on the top, with a beetle or any fly, then
be fure to let ypur line be very long, and to keep
ogt of fight. And having told you that his
fpawn is excellent meat, and that the head of a
large Cheven, the throat being well walhed, ia
the beft part of him, I will fay no more of thi^
fifli at the prefent, but wifli you may catch the
next yog fifli for.
But left you may judge me too nice in urging
to have the Chubdreffcd fo prefently after he his
taken, I will commend to your confideration
how curious former times have been in the like
kind.
You ftiall read in Seneca^s Natural Queftions,
Lib. III. Cap.'i 7. that the ancients were fo curious
in the newnefs of their fifh, that that feemed
not new enough that was not put alive into the
gueft's hand -, and he fays, that to that end they
did ufually keep them living in glafs bottles in
their dining-rooms -, and they did glory much in
their entertaining of friends to have that fifli
taken from under their table alive, that was
inftantly to be fed upon. And he fays» they
took great pleafure to fpe their Mullets change
to feveral colours, when they were dyin"^. But
enough of this, for I doubt I have (laid too
JongYrom giving you fome obfervations of the
Trout, and how to fifti for him, which fliaU
take up the next of ipy fpare tiqie *. ^
CHAP,
• The ibibnts of the Chub are ftreams (haded with trees ;
in fummer deep holes, where they will fometiines float n^ar
the furface of the. water^ ^nd ODder the boughs on the fide
f>i' a bank.
Their
64 Tke CoisfhtTZ AvohtSL, FxrtU
CHAP, IV.
Oi/ervations of t be V[ AT VKE m^Breeed-
iNG of tie Trovt, and btyw to J^ for
bim. And tbe Milk-maids Song.
P I S C A T p R.
THE Trout is a fi(h highly valued both
in this and foreign nations : he may be
juftly faid, as the old poet fatid of wine,
and we Englifi fay of venifon» to be a generous
fifli : a fi(h that is fo like the buck, that he alio
has bis feafons ; for it is obferved».that heconnes
in and goes out of feafon with the ftag and
buck : Cefner fays, his name is of a German off-
ipring, and fays he is a fi(h that feeds clean and
purely, in the fwifceft flreams, and on tbe hardeft
gravel; and that he may juftly contend with all
frcfh-water fifh, as the Mullet may with all fea-
fiih for precedency and daintinefs of tafte ^ and
that being in right feafon, the mod dainty pa*
lates have allowed precedency to him.
And before I go farther in my difcourfe, let
me tell you, that you are to obferve, that as
there be fome barren does that are good in
Tlicir fpawniDg-tTme is towards the beginning of ^r//.-
they are in feafon from about the middle of Majf tilt the
vM6\e oi Ftbruary % but are bell in winter.
At mid-watery and at bottom, ufe a float; at top, either
dib» or if yoa have room, afe the Ay-line as for^rout.
They are fo eager in biting, that, when they take the
bftitji yoQ may hear their jaws chop like thofe pf a dog.
fummer^
Chap. IV. T'/'^CoMPLETE Angler. 65
fumnaer, fo there be fome barren Trouts that
are good in winter; but there are not many
that are fo, for ufually they be in their per-
fection in the month of May^^ and decline with
the buck. Now you are to take notice, Ihac
in feveral countries, as in Germawf^ and in
other parts, compared to our^s, filh do differ
much in their bignefs, and fhape, and other
ways, and fo dp Trouts ; i^ is well known,
that in the Lake Leman^ the Lake of Geneva^
there are Trouts taken three cubits long, as
is affirmed by Gcfnevy a writer of good credit \
and Mercatw * fays, the Trouts that are taken
in the Lake of Geneva^ are a great part of the
merchandize of that famous city. And you
are further to know, that there be certain
waters that breed Trouts, remarkable both for
their number and fmallnefs. I know a little
brook in Kvtt^ that breeds them to a number
incredible, and you may take them twenty or
forty in an hour, but none greater than about
the fize of a Gudgeon : there are alfo, in divers
rivers, elpecially that relate to, or be near to
the fea^ as JVincbeJler^ or the Thames about
WindfoTy a little Trout called a Samlet, or
Skegger Trout 5 in both which places I have
caught twenty or forty at a (landing, that will
bite as fail and as freely as Minnows *, thefe be
by fome taken to be young Salmons, but in thofe
* Gerard Mercaior^ of Rttremond in Flanders, a man of
fo iotenfe application to mathematical fludies, that he he-
gkdled the neceiTary refreihments of nature. He engraved
with his own hand* and coloured, the maps to his geogra*^ •
phical writings. He wrote feveral books of theology ; and
died i59f«
F Waters
66 7'i&^ Complete Angler. Parti.
waters they never grow to be bigger than* a
Herring.
There is alfo in Kent^ near to Canterbury^ a
Trout called there a Fordidge Trout, a Trout
th^t bears the^ name of the town where it is
tifually caught, that is accounted the rareft of
fifli ; many of them near the bignefs of a Sal-
mon, but known by their different colour, and
in their beft feafon they cut very white; and
none of thefe havie been known to be caught
with an angle, unlefs it were one that was caught
by Sir George HaJfmgST^^ an excellent angler, and
now with God 5 and he hath told me, he thought
that Trout bit not for hunger but wantonnefs v
and it is the rather to be believed, becaufe both
he then, and many others before him, have
been curious to fearch into their bellies, what
the food was by which they lived ; and have
found out nothing by which they might fatisfy
their curiofity.
Concerning which you are to take notice, that
It is reported by good authors, that grafliop-
pers * and fome fi(h have no mouths, but are
* It is faid by nataralifts, that the f^rafliopper has na
mouth; but a pipe in his breafl, through which it fuck»
the de.Wy . which is its nutriment* There are two forts>^
Che green and the dun ; feme fay there is a third, of a
yellowiih green. They are found in long grafs, from June
to the end of Stftemter^ and even in O^lober^ if the weather
be mild. In the middle of Mayyoioi will fee in the joints
ofrofemary, thiflles,. and almoft all the larger weeds, d^
white fer^iented froth, which the country people call
Cvckonv*% Spit ; in thefe the eggs of the gralhopper zte
depofited ; and if your examine them, you ihall never fail
of finding a yellowiih infeft, of about the fize and (hape-
'pf a grain of wheat, which;i doubtlefij is the young ^raf-
hopper.
nouriihed
I
Chap. IV. 7i&^ CoMPtBTS Angler; 67
nouri(hed and take breath hv the poroufnefs of
their ^ills, man knows not how ; and this may
be beheved, if we conGder that when the raven
Bath hatched her eggs, (he takes no farther care»
but leaves her young ones to the care of the
God of nature, who is faid in the Pfalms^ ** To
*^ feed the young ravens that call ujpon bim«*^
And they be kept alive, and feed by a dew, or
worms that breed in their nefb, or fome other
ways that we mortals know not \ and this ma^
be beUeved of the Fordidgi Trout, which, as it
is faid olF the ftork, that he knows his feafon^
fo he knows his times, I think almoft his day
of coming into that river out of the fea, where
he lives, and it is like, feeds nine months of
the year, and fafts three in the river of Fordidge.
And you are to note, that thofe townfmen are
very punctual in obferving the time of begin«-
ning to fi(h for them; and boaft much that
their river affords a Trout, that exceeds all
others. And juft b does Stdkx boaft of feveral
fiih; as namely, a Sbelfiy Cockle, a Cbicbiftir
luoblter, an Arundel Mullet^ and an Amerlf
Trout.
And now for fome confirmation of the Fcr^^
didge Trout : you are to know that this Trout is
thought to eat nothing in the frelh water ; and
it may be the better believed, becaufe it is well
known, that fwallows, and bats, and wagtails^
which are called half-year birds, and not feen to
flie uiE^land for fix months in the year, Iput
about Mubaekuu leave us for a
hotter climate ; yet fome of them Tu^Sirfntu
that have been left behind their J^' ^''^'^^
fellows, have been found, many ^
H 2 thpu?
68 sra^ Complete Angler. Part L
thoufands, at a time, in hollow trees, or- clay
caves 5 where they have been obferved to live
and deep out the whole winter without meat;
and fo Alberm^ * obferves, that there ' is one
kind of frog that hath her mouth
Sie^ Topfel' of naturally (hut: up about the end
^^^^* of Au^Jf^ and that (he lives fo
all tte winter : ana though it be ftrange to
ifome, yet it is known to too many among us to.
be doubted f.
And fo much for thefc Fordidgt TroutS5».
which never afford an angler fport, but cither
live their tirue of being in the frefh water, by
their meat formerly gotten in the fea, not unlift!^
the fwallow or frog, or by the virtue of the
frefli water only ; or as the bird of Paradife^ an<t
the camelion are faid to live by the fun and the
air.
There is alfo in Northumberland a Trout called
a Bull-trout, of a much greater length and'big^-
nefs than any in thefe fouthetn parts : and there
are in many rivers that relate to the fea, Salmon-
trouts, as much different from others, both in-
Ihape and in their fpots, as we fee (heep in fome
"countries differ one from another in their (hape
and bignefs, and in the fiiienefs of their woofc:
and certainly, as, fome paftu res breerflarger-ftxcep^
fo do fome rivers,, by reafon of the ground over
which they run, breed larger Trouts.
N
• * Alhertus MaptuSj a German Dominican, stnd a yery ^
learned man: Vtban IV. compelled* him to accept o£ the,
bi/hoprick of Ratijhon. He wrote a treatife On theiecrcts
of nature, and twenty othes veluxAes in foUof and died.^t^
Cologne 1280.
I Sc€ Ch^p. viii. , ^
Now
(
Chap. IV. 7i&^ Complete Angler. 6^
Now the next thing that I will commend to
yotrr coniideration is, that the Trout is of a
more fudden growth than other filh : concerning
which you are alfo to take notice, that he lives
not fo long as the Pearch and divers other fifhes
do, as Sir Francis Bacon hath obferved in his
iMftory of life and death.
And next you are to take notice, that he is
Dot like the Crocodile, which if he lives rtever
ib long, yet always thrives till his death : but it
Is not fo with the Trout ; for after he is come
to his full growtli, he declines in his body, and
keeps his bignefs, or thrives only in his head
till his death. And you are to know, that he
will, e^ecially before the time of his fpawn-
ifig, get almoft miraculoufly through weirs and
flood-gates againft the ftreams, even through
fuch high and fwift places as is almofl incredi-
ble. Next, that the Trout ufually fpawns about
O^oher or November ^ but in fome rivers a little
fooner or later : which is the more obfervable,
becaufe mod other fifh fpawn in the fpring or
fuoHner, when the fun hath warmed both the
tartli and water, and made it (it for generation.
And you are to note, that he continues many
months out of feafon : for it may be obferved
of the Trout, that he is like the buck or the ox,
that will not be fat in many months, though he
go in the very fame pafture that horfes do, which
will be fat in one month ; and fo you may ob-
fcrvc, that moft other fifhes recover ftrength, and
;row fooner fat and in feafon than the Trout
loth.
And next you are to note, that till the fun
gets to fuch a height as to warm the earth and
^ " F 3 iht
jroi Th€ Complete Angler. Parti.
the water, the Trout is fick and lean, and loufy^
and unwholfome : for you (hall in winter find
him to have a big head, and then to be lank,
and thin, and lean *, at which time many of them
have flicking on them fugs, or Trout-lice, which
is a kind of a worm, in fhape like a clove or pin
with a big head, and (licks clofe to him, and
fucks his moifture ^ thofe, I think, the Trout
;; breeds himfelf, and never thrives till he free him*
felf from them, which is when warm weather
comes } and then, as he grows (Ironger, he gets
jfrom the dead ftill water, into the (harp ftreams,
land the gravel, and there rubs off thefe worms
pr lice i and then, as he grows (Ironger, fo he
gets him into fwifter and fwifter (Ireams, and
(there lies at the watch for any fly or minnow
that comes near to him % and he efpecially loves
the May- fly, which is bred of the cod-worm,
or cadis *, and thefe make the Trout bold and
lufl:y ; and he is ufually fatter and better meat at
the end of that month, than at any time of the
year.
Now you are to know, that it is obferved^
that ufually the beft Trouts are either red or yeU
low; though fome, as the Fordidge Trout, be
white and yet good \ but that is not ufual : and
* This U thought to be a miftake, and that the cod.
worm* or cadis, prodoces a very diiFerent fly, called the
cadis-fly» which is thus defcribed : It is a large }fellow fly ;
lias four pale yellovv wings, all of one coloor ; his body is
of a pale vellow^ ribbed with a dark brown. But the May- .
flvy whicn I could never underftand to be any other thaa.
. tie gften-drMcey is inclofedf when in embryo, in a longer
and much fmaller hulk than the cadis-fly above-mentioned.
See the Art of Amgling^ atid CmfUte Fly-Fijhr, by Riebtiri
Bswlktn printed at Wwujltr^ hi 1 2Jno.
2 it-
Chap. IV. Tie Complete Akglih. jt
it is a aote obfervablc, that the female Trout
hath ufually a lefs head, and a deeper body than
the male Trout, and is ufually the better meat :
and note^ that a h(^«back, and a Uttle head to
either Trout, Salmon, or any other fiih, is t
lign that that fi(h is in feafon.
But yet you are to note, that as you fee fome
willows or palm-trees bud and bloflbm fooner
Chan others do, fo fome Trouts be in rivers fooner
in feafon ; and as fome hollies or oaks are longer
before they call their leaves, fo are fome Trouts
in rivers longer before they go out of feaibn.
And you are to note, that there are feveral
kinds of Trouts, but thefe feveral kiiuls are not
confidered but by very few men, for they go un*
der the general name of Trouts : juft as pigeons
do in moil places -, though it is certain, there are
tame and wild pigeons : and of the tame, there
be hclmits and runts, and carriers and cropers,
and indeed too many to name. Nay, the Royal
Society have found and publifhed lately, than
there be thirty- three kinds of fpiders : and yet all^
for aught I know, go under that one «neral name
of fpider. And it is fo with many kinds of fiih,
and of Trouts efpecialiy, which differ in their
bignefs and (bape, and fpots and colour. The
great Kentijh hens may be an inftance compared'
to other hens ; and doubclefs there is a kind of
fmall Trout,' which will never thrive to be big,
that breeds very many more than others do, that
be of a larger (ize ; which you may rather be-
lieve, if yoa confider, that the little wren and
titmoufe will have twenty young ones at a timey
when ufually the noble hav/k, or the mufical
thraflbl or blackbird, exceed aot four or five.
F 4 vAnd
j2 ^be Complete Angler.. Part J.
And now you (ball fee me try my fkill to
catch a Trout ; and at my next walking, either
this evening, or to-morrow morning, I will give
you diredion how you ypurfelf fhall fUh for
liim.
Ven. Truft me, mailer, I fee now it is i^
harder matter to catch a Trout than a Chub : for
I have put on patience, and followed you thefe
twO' hours, and not feen a (i(h ftir, neither ac
your minnow nor your worm.
' Pifc, Well, fcholar, yoq muft endure worfe
luck fometime, or ypu will never make a good
angler. But what fay you now ? there is a
Trout now, and a good one top, if I can but
hold him, and two or three turns more will tire
him: now you fee lie lies ft ill, and the fleighp
is to land him : reach me that landing net : fo^
Sir, now he is mine own, what fay you now, is
not this worth all my labour and your patience ?
Ven. On my word, matter, this is a gallant
Trout, what fliall we do with him ?
Pifc. Marry, e'en eat bim for fupper: we'll
go to my hoftefs from whence we came ; Ihe
told me, as I was going put of door, that my
brother Petir^ a good angler and a t:hearful
con^anion, had fent word he ^oujd lodge there
.to night, and bring a friend with him. My
hoftefs bas' two beds, and I knoyr you and I
ijiay have the beft : weMl rejoice with my bro*
ther Peter arid his friend, tell talcs, or fing bal-
lads, or make a catch, or find fome harmlefs
ipprt to content u^, and p^fs away a little rime
witho;Ut offence to fjod or ^ap.
Ven. X rnatch, good Diafter, let's go to that
houfe^ for the linen looks white, and fmells of
it *
Javen-
Chap. IV. ^be Complete AnctEit. 73
lavender, and I long to lie in a pair of flicets
that fmell fo : let's be going, good matter, for
I am hungry again with fiQiing.
Pifc. Nay, ftay a little, good fcholar; I
caught my laft Trout lyith a worm, now 1 will
put on a minnow, and 'try a quarter of an hour
about yonder trees for another, and fo. walk
towards our lodging. Look you, fcholar, there-
about we fiiall have a bite prefently, or not at
all : have y/ith yop Sir ! o'my word I have bold
of him. Oh it is a great logger-headed Chub ;
come, hang him upon that willow twig, and
let's be going. But turn out of the way a littfe^
good fcholar, towards yonder high hone^fuckle
liedge ; there we- 11 fit and f)ng, whilft this fliower
falls fo gently upon the teeming earth, and gives
yft a fweeter fmell to the love)y fjowers that
adorn thefe verdant meadows.
Look, under the broad beech-tree, I fat
down, when i was laft this way a fifhing, and
the birds in the adjoining grove feemed to have
a friendly contention with an echo, whofe dead
vpice feemed to Jive in a hollow tree, near to the
brow of that primrofc-hill ; there I fat Viewing
the filver ftreams^lide filently towards their cen-
ter, the tempeftuous fea ; yet fometimes oppofed
by rugged roots and pebble-ftones, which broke
their waves, and t.urhed them into foam : and
fometimes I beguiled time by viewing the harm-
l/^s lambs, fome leaping fecurcly in the cool
^ade, whilft others fported themfelves in the
chearful fun 5 and* faw others craving comfort
|rom the fwollcn udders of their bleating dams.
As I thus fat, thefe and other fights had fo fully
' - poflcft
74 7"^ CoMPLETB Angleii. Pant,
po£feft my fdul with content, that I thought, as
the poet has happily expreft it»
iwas for that time lifted above earth ;
And pojfefi joys not promised in my birtb.
As I left this place and entered into the next
field, a fecond pleafure entertained me ; 'twas a
handfome milk-maid, that had not yet attained fo
much age and wifdom as to load her mind with
any fears of many things that will never be, as
too many men too often do ; but ihe caft away
all care, and fung like a nightingale ; her voice
was good, and the ditty fitted for it : 'twas that
imooth fdng, which was made by Kit Matlow^
how at lead fifty years ago : and the milk- maid's
mother fung an anfwer to it, which was made
by Sir Waiter Raleigb in his younger days.
They were old-fa(hioned poetry, but choice-
ly good, I think much better than the ftrong
lines that are now in fafhion in this critical age.
Look yonder ! on my word, yonder they both
be a milking again. I will give her the Chub,
and perfuade them to fing thofe two fongs to us.
. God fpeed you, good woman, I have been a
fifhing, and am ^ing to Bleak-Hall^ to my bed,
and having caught more fiih than will fup myfelf
and my friend, I will bellow this upon you and
your daughter, for I ufe to fell none.
Mitk'W. Marry God requite you. Sir, and we'll
eat it chearfully ; and if you come this way a
• Tlic author fccms here to have forgot himfeJf; for.
Page 53, he fays is to lodge at TroMhHaTl.
fifhing
Chap. IV. fhe Complete Angler. 75
li(hing two months hence, a grace of God V\\
rive you a fillabub of new verjuice in a new-made
lay-cock for it, and my Maudlin (hall ling you
one of her beft ballads ; for (he and I both lova
all anglers, they be fuch hone(t, civil, quiec
men *: in the mean time will you drink a draught
of red caw's milk ? you (hall have it freely.
Pifi. No, I thank you -, but I pray do us a
courtefy that (hall (band you and your daughter
in nothing, and yet we will think ourfelves (till
fomething in your debt : it is but to (ing us a
fong that was fung by your daughter when I
lad paft over this meadow^ about eight or n'me
days fince.
Milk'W. What fong was it, I pray I Was it.
Come Jbepberds deck your herds ? or, As at noon
Dulcinea rejled? or, Phillida^^/j me ? or. Chevy
Chace ? or, Johnny Armftrong ? or, Troy Town ?
Pifc. No, it is none of thofe ; it is a fong,
that your daughter fung the firft part, and you
fung the anfwer to it.
* There are (bme few exceptions to this charaAer of ang*
lers : the greateft and moft wonderftl revolution that ever
happened in any date, was brought about by s^n angler; I
mean that in NafUif in the year 1647 : concerning which
we are told. That *' ayoungxnan» aboot twenty-four, hap«
** pened to be in a corner of the great market- place at Na*
** //</, a fprightly man, of a middle ftature, black-eved, ra-
** ther lean than fat, having a fmall tuft of hair ; he wore
** linen flops, a blue waiftcoat, and went barefoot, with a
'* mariner's cap ; but he was of a good countenance, flout
** and lively as could be. His profeflion was to aMgb fir
** liitli fifli with a cotti^ heek^ and line. His name was Tc^
'* mafi Jnelhi of Amalji^ but vulgarly called MafamielU.*^
£ee the hiftory of the revolution in Naples^ by Sig. Alejfan^
Mo Giraffi»
y6 The Complete An^o^er. Part'I*
Milk-m. O, I know it now, I learned the
firil part in my golden age, when I was about
the age of my poor daughter ; and the latter
part, which indeed fits me belt now, but two or
three years ago, when the cares of the world
began to take hold of me; but youflialt, God
willing, hear them both, and fung as well as -we
can„ for we both love anglers. . Come Maudlin^
fing the firft part to the gentlemen with a merrj^
heart, wd TU fing the ^cond> wjien you have
done.
The Milk-Maip's SONG.
/^OME live with me^ and he ny I^vfy
^ j4nd we, wll all the pleasures prove ^
^hat valley 5y groves^ or hills^ or fields ~
Or woods ^ aMfiee^ mot^ntainsjield,
Where we wiUJit Mpon the rocks ^
jind fee the Jhepherds feed our fipcks^
By fballow rivers^ to whofe falls ^
MeloMom birds Jing'fnadrigals.
And LwHl fnake thee. beds pfrofes^
. And then a tbouf and fragrant poejies^
A cap of flowers^ and a kirtk^
Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle.
Agown mcidi of the finefiwooly
■ , Which from our pretty lambs we pull \ :-
• Slippers lin^d choicely for the cold^ ■ • '
TVith buckles of the furefi gold.
.. 'W
J i.
r
Ptib^AcoorAingto AiftofTtaliwati^Jg.
\
Chap. IV. The Complete Ajigler. yf
A heU ofjlraw and ivy- huds^
With coral clafps and amber Jiuds ;
And if tbefe pleafures may thee move^
Come live wish me and be my kve.
Thy/! her dijhesfor thy meat^
As precious as the gods do eat^
Shall on an ivory table be^ ^
Prepared each day for thee and me.
The fiepherd-fwains fhall dance andjtng^
For thy deUgbt each Mav morning :
If thefe delights thy mind may move^
Then live with me^ and be my love *•
Ven. Truft mc> matter, it is a choice fong,
and fwcetly fung by honeft MaudUff. I now fee
it was not without caufe, that our good Queen
Elizabeth did fo often wi(h herfelf a milk-maid
all the month of M^, becaufe they are not
troubled, with fears and cares, but fing fweetly
all the day,, and fleep lecurety aH the night r and
without doubt, honeft, innocent, pretty MaudUm
does fo. ni beftow Sir Thomas Overbury*s
milk-maid's wifli upon her, " That fhe may die
** in the fpring, and being dead, may have good
• Dr. Warhurtimi in his notes on The Merry Tfl<ues cf
Windfbr» afcribes this fong to Sbake/peare : it is trae» Sir
Hugh Evans, in the third aftof that play, iinffs four lines of
U ; and it is m-inted in a colle&ion of poems faid to be Shake"
/peare'Sf puDiifli^d bctweea tw^my md thifty years after his
death ; bat the authority of that colleAion'^as ever been
queilioned. On the contrary, Walton has juft faid it waa
foade by Kit Marlow, a poet well known at that time.
Ti)e reader will judge of tkefe authorities as he pleafts^
yC^ ^^ t^TK^ ^-f^^^ M^^ffur^^ >• ftorc
yS 7i6tf CowPLETE Anguer; Parti.
^^^ (tore of flowers ftuck round about her wind*
-** ing flicct *."
The Milk-Maid's M6thir*s Anfwer.
TF all the wtftld and love were youngs
-* And truth in every Jhepherdfs tongue^
Thefe pretty pleafures might me move
To Hve with thee^ and he thy love.
But time drives flocks from field to fold,
When rivers rage, and rocks grow cold,
Then Philomiel becometh dumb^
And age complains of care to come^
The flowers do fade ^ and wanton fields
To wayward winter reckoning yields^
A bettey tongUBy 4 heart of ga%
Is fanty^ s fpringy but firrew^s fall.
Tl^ gowns y thyfhoes^ thy beds ofrofeSy
Thy c^p^ thy kirtle^ and thy foefies^
9oon brmki foon wither y foon forgotten^
Jh folly ripey in reafon rotten.
Tky heit of ftrOWy and ivy buds y
Thy oeral cUfpsy and amber fludsy
AUthefe in me no means can movCy
To come to theey and be thy love.
Whatjhould we talk of dainties tben^
<^ better medf iha^sfitfor men f
•, ^vt^homu 0<uerhiiry% CharaBer of a f^r and bafjg
Jt/Z/iriTTo/V, printed with liis iCf/>y in izmo, i^/5«
neft
Chap. IV, The Complete AhglerV 79
Thefe are but vmn \ tbafsenfygoed
WMcb Gcd balb bUft^ and fenifmr foed.
But ccuU youth U^^ and Iweftill breeds
Had joys no date^ nor age no need ;
Then ebofe delights wy mind migbi mopt^
' To live with tbee^ and be iiy Jove*
Mother. Well, I Have done ttiy fong; but
ftay, honed anglers, for I will make Maudlin
to fing you one (hort fong more. Mondlin^ fing
that fong that you fung laft night, when young
Corydon the (hepherd played to purely on his
oaten pipe to you and your coufiin Betty.
Maud. I will, mother.
T Married a wife oflate^
* The maris my unhappy fate :
I married her for kve^
As my fancy did me mave^
And not for a worldly eftate.
But oh ! the green fuknefs
Soon changed her likenefs %
And all her beauty did fail.
But *tis notfoy
With tbofe thai go^
Thro^ frofl and fmw^
As all men kndw^
And carry the mOung-pail.
Fife. Well fung, good woman \ I thadc you \
VW give you another dilh of fiQi one of tliefe
days, and then beg another fong of you. Come,
^i;:holar, let Maudlin aloM \ dg not yoa offer vo
^ ^oil
So The Complete Angier. Par t L
fpoil her voice. Look, yonder comes mifie
hoftefs, to call us to fupper. How now \ is my
brother Pefer come ?
Hojtefs. Yes, and a friend with him % they aire
both glad to hear that you are in thefe parts^ and
long to fee you, and long to be at fupper, for
they be very hungry? .
m0m^iimmm>0m0tittittm^mmttmimmmmmmmmmmi^m^fmmmmmtmm^^tm
• ' C HAP. V.
More DtreSiions how to^Jh for, and bow to
^ make for the Trout an Artificial Min-
now and Flies, with fome merriment.
PiSCATOR.
WELL met, brother FeUr ; I hear you
and a friend would lodge-here to night/
and that hath made me to bring my
friend to lodge here too. My friend is one
that would fain be a brother of the angle ; he
hath been an angler but this day, and I have
taught him how tp catch a Chub by daping
with a gra(hopper, and the Chub he caught was
a lufty one of nineteen inches long. But, pray
brother Peter^ who is your companion ?
Peter. Brother Pifcator^ my friend is an ho-
ned countryman, and his name is Corydon^ and
he is a downright witty companion, that met me
here purpofcly to be pleafanr and eat a. Trout,
• and I have not yet wetted my line fince we met
together ; but I hope to fit him with a Trout
foj: his -brcakfaft, for V\\ be early yp,
Ghap. V. tke CoiArtftt Akclbr. 5r
Pif. Nay, brother, you fiiall not ftay fo long :
for look ]<ou here is a
Witt 611 CiX rearonable bellies. Cdme, hoftefs.
dreft it prefently, and get Us what oiher meat
the houfe wilt afibrd, ahd give us' fdme of your
beft barley-wine, the good liquor that our honeft
fore-fathers did ufc to drink of j the drink which
prefcrved thcit health, and made th*irt live fo'
long, and to do' &> many good deeds. ■ -
Feter. 0*my wbrd, this Trout is perfe£l in
ftfiCof). Gome, 1 thank you, and here is a
hearty draught to yoil, and to all the brothers of
the ArigW wher^foever they be, and to my young
bfOther's good fortune to-morrow : I will fiirnim
him with a rod, if youwil! futnifh him with the
reft o^ this tackling J *e will ftt hinii up and
make hirti a Fifher.
And I *viH teil'him bfie thing fot" his cricou-
rigeaient, thit his ftff tune hath made him hajipy
to be fchoUr to fuch a mafter *, a maftet that
G knows
82 . The CdMPtTTE Akoler. Part i«
knows as much both of the nature and breeding
of fi(h as any man : and can alfo tell hinyas weH
how to catch an4 cook them,, from the Minnow
to the Salmon, as any that I ever met withaL
Pifc. Truft me, brother Peier^ I find jnf
fcholar to be fo fuitable to my own humour^
which is to be free and pleafant, and civilly
merry, that my refolution is to hide nothing tha€
1 know from him. Believe me, fcholar, this
is my refolution 5 and fo here's to you a hearty
draught, and to all that love us^ and the hdneft
art of Angling.
Fen. Truft me, good matter, you (hall not
fow your feed in barren ground, for I hope to
return you an increafe anfwerable to your hopes ;
but however you (hall find me obedient, and
thankful, and ferviceable to my beft ability.
Pifc. 'Tis enough, honeft fcholar, come,
let's to fupper. Come my friend Condon^ this
Trout looks lovely, it was twenty- two inches
when it was taken, and the belly of it looked
fome part of it as yellow as a marigold, and
part of it as white as a lilly, and yet, methinks^
it looks better in this good fauce.
Cor. Indeed honeft friend, it looks well, and
taftes well ; I thank you for it, and fo doth my
friend Peter^ or elfe he is to blame.
Pet. Yes, and fo I do, we all thank you, ^nd
when we have fupped, I will gctjny friead Cm-
{Utt to fing you a fong for requital.
Cor. I will fing a long, if any body will fing
another *, elfe, to be plain with you, I will fing
none : I am none of thofe that fing for meat, but
for company : I fay, *'Tis merry in hdll^ when
men^ng alU
3 Pifc.
Ohap. V. The Complete AkglCh. 83
Pifci ril promifc you I'll fing a fpng that was
lately made at my rcqucft, by Mr. tyUliam B^Jf^i \
one that bath mado^ the choice fongs of the
Hunter in his career^ and of Totn of Bedlam^ and .
rnany others of note --, and this that I will fing,
is in praife of Arigling.
Cor, And then mine ihall be the praife of a
eountry-man's life : What will the reft fing of ?
Pet. I will promife youj I will fing another
fong in praife of Angling to* morrow night, for
^e will not part till then, but fi(h to-morrow,
and fap together, and the rwrxt day every man
leave fifhing, and fall to his btifincfs.
Venat. 'Tis a match, 1 will provide vou z
fong or a catch againft then too, which (hall
give fome addition of mirth to the company 5
for we will be ciril and as merry as beggart.
Pifc. 'Tis a match my matters, let's e'en fey
grace, ahd turn to tlie fire, drink the other cup
to wet our whirAles, and lb fing away a]} kd
thoughts.
Cort)e on, frty mafters^ whx> b^g^h^ ? I think it
js beft to draw cuts, and avoid contention.
Pet. It is a match. Look the fliortert cut
falls to Coridon.
Cor* Well thdri, 1 will begin, for 1 hate co»-
iention.
Cofti6o<j*s S ONO-
iQ H ibefweet cdntentmeHt
^ TJbi countryman doth find /
Jieigb trolollie loUie Ue
Heigh trolollie kllie lee^
^bat quiet contemplaHm
Pd£e£eth all my mind :
G i Tlien
i
S4 yj^ CoMFt.ETE Angler. PartL
Then care away.
And wend along with irie»
Tot courts are full of flattery^
As hath too oft bun tried \
Heigh trohlUe hUie loe^ ^c.
., ^he city full of wantomefs^
And both are full of pride :
Then care away, &c.
But oh the bonefl countryman
Speaks truly from his hearty
Heigh trolollie lollie loe^ &c.
His pride is in his tillage^
' His hdrfes and his cart :
Then care away, &c.
Our chatUng is good fieep-Jkins^
Cray ruffe t for our wives ^
Heigh trolollie lollie loCj £f?r.
^Tis warmth and not gay cloathingj
That doth prolong our lives :
Then care away,. &c.
The ploughman^ tbo* be labour hardy
Tet on the hofy-dayy
Hei^h trolollie lollie loe^ ^c.
Ko emperor fo merrily
Does pafs his time away r
Then care away, &c.
To recompmfe our tillage^ ,
The heavens afford usfhowers%
Heigh trolollie lollie he, ^c.
And for our fweet refrefhments
The earth affords us bowers \
Then care away, &c.
The
Chap. V. Th Complete Anclbr. i§
Tie cuckow and She nightingale^
Full merrily dojing^
Heigh trolollie JolUe loe^ C^c.
Jnd with tbfir pleafant roundeUys
Bid welcome io ihejpring :
Then care away, Sec.
This is not half the happinefs
The countryman enjoys ;
Heigh trolollie lollie loe^ 6f r.
Tho* others think they hofve as mucb^
Tet he that fays fo lies :
Then come away.
Turn counfryiBan with me.
Jo. Chalkhill *.
Pifc. Well fung Coridony this fong was fung
with mettle ; and ic was choicely fitted to the oc-
cafion ; 1 ihall love you for it as lone as I know
you ; I would you were a brother of the angle*
for a companion that is chearful, and free from
fwearing and fcurrilous difcourfe, is worth gold.
I love fuch mirth as does not make friends
afhamed to look upon one another next morning ;
nor men that cannot well bear it, to repent the
money they fpend when they be warmed with
drink : and take this for a rule, you may pick
out fuch times and fuch companies, that you may
make yourfelvcs merrier for a little than a great
deal of money-, for " 'Tis the company and ilbt
** the charge that makis the feaft :** and fuch a
companion y6^^ prove, I thank you for it.
., ^ • • •
* yohn CbalkhiUf Efq; o( whom mention is made in the
author's life.
G 3 But
\6 ' fbe Cqmi^lete An'gler. Part t?
tiup I will not pornf Ument you ojijt of the debt
that I owe yod, and therefore I will begin my
ibng, and wifli it may be fo well liked.
The A N G L E r's S P N G.
ji S inward love hneds outward talk^
•T^ The hpund fame praife^ andfome the hawk :
Some better pleased witip private fpqrt^
Ufi tennis^ Jome a mijlrefs court :
But tbcfe delights I neither wijb^
Nor envy ^ while I freely fijh^^
Who hunts^ doth aft in danger ride ;
Ji^ho hawks, lures oft both far and wide*^
Who ufcs games fhall often prove
A lofer \ but who falls i^ love^
Js fettered in fond Cupid'^ fnare :
My angk breeds me no fuch care.
Of recreation there is none
$9 free asfifhing is alone ;
All Qthar pajiimes do no lefs
fThan mind and body both pojfefs :
My hand alone my work cm dci^
Sp I canffb an4fludy too.
I care, not y /, tofifbinfeasy
Frefb rivtrs hefi my mind do pleafe ; .
4Hyofefw^M calm courfe I contemplate^^
Andfeek in life to imitate :
In civil bounds I fain would keep^
Atdfor my paji offences weep.
jMd
Chap. V. The Complitb Anolee. . 87
^d when the timorous Troui I wait
7<0 take^ and be devours my bMt^
How poor a thing fometiMs Ifind^
Will captivate a greedy mind :
And when none bite^ Ipraife the wife^
Whom vain allurements n^erfurprifep
JButyet ibo' while Ifijb Jfaft^
I make good fortune my repaft^
And thereunto my friend invite^
Jn whom I more than that delight t '
Who is more welcome to my dijb^
Than to my angle wasmyfjb.
' As ^ell content no prize to take^
Asufe of taken prize to make :
JForfo our Lord was pleafed when
flefijbers madefijhers of men :
jVhere^ which is in no other game^
^ A man mayfifh andpraife his name.
ffhefirft men that our Saviour dear
JXd chufe to wait upon him here,
Bleftffiers were^ andfifb the laft
J^ood was J that he on earth did tajle.
I therefore Jirive to fellow thofe J
Whom he to follow him hath chofe, ^
»
Cor. Well fiing brother, you have paid your
debt IB good coin ^ we Anglers are all beholding
CO the good man that made this fong. Con:ie»
hollefs, ^ive us more ^le, and let's drink to
him,
G 4 And
^o The CoMPLiTE Angler. Parti.
or lob-worm *, which of all others is the mofl:
excellent bait for a Salmon ; and too many to
name, even as many forts as fome think there be
of fcveral herbs or (hrubs, or of feveral kinds of
birds in the air j of which I (hall fay no more,
but tell you, that what worms foever you filh
with, are the better for being well fcourcd, %hzt
16, long kept before they be ufed : and in cafe*
you have not been fo provident, then the way to
cleanfe and fcour them quickly, is to put them
all night in water, if they be lob- worms, and
then put them into your bag with fennel ; bup
you muft not put your brandlings above an hour
in water, and then put them into fennel forfud-,
den ufe : but if you have time, and purpofe to
keep them long, then they be beft preferved ir^
an earthen pot with good (lore of mofs, wl^icti
* To avoid confufion, it may be neceiTary to, remark,
that the fame kind of worm is, in different places* known 1>y
different names : thus the marfh and the meadow-worm »
zrt the fame ; and the lob-worm, or twachel, is alfo calls
ed the >lew-worm ; and the garden-worm, aQd tj^e doickr
worm, 18, in fome places, called ttie flag-worm.
The tag-tail is tonnd in March and Aprils in marled
lands or meadows, after k ihower of rain, or in 9 mornr
sue, when the weather is calm, a^d not cold.
To find the oak- worm, beat on an oak-tree, that grows
over a highway or bare place, and they will fall for you to
gather.
To find the dock- worm, go to an old pond or pit, an4
pull up fome of the flags ; fliake the roots in the water, an4
amongft the fibres that grow from the roots yo» will fin4
little bulks, or cafes, of areddiflioryelloiviihcoloar; open
thefe carefully with a pin, and take from thence a little worm,
pak and yellow, or white, like a gentle, but longer ana
Aenderer, with rows of feet down his bellyi and arraheadr
this is the dock or flag- worm. An excellent bait for Cray-*
ling, Tench, Bream, Carp, Roach and Dace,
Chap. y. The Complete Angler. 91
js to be frcfh every three or four days in futn-
mer, and every week or eight days in winter \
pr at leaft the tpofs taken from them, and clean
wafhed, and wrung betwixt yqur hands till it be
flry, and then put it to them again. And when
your worms, elpecially the brandling, begins to
jbe fick and lofe of his bignefs, then you may re?
cover him, by putting a little milk or cream,
about a fpponfui in a day, into them, by drops
on the mofs ^ and if there be added to the cream
an egg beaten and boiled in it, then it will both
fatten and prefcrve them long *. And note, that
when the knot, which is near to the middle of
{the brandling, begins to fwell, then he is flck %
and, if he be not well looked to, is near dying.
And for mofs, you are to note, that there be
jdivers kinds of it -f , which I could name to you,
but will only tell you, that that which is likeft
a buck's- horn is tpe bed, except it be foft white
mofs, which grows on fome heaths, and is hard
tp be found. And note, that in a very dry time,
yhen you are put to an extremity for worms,
yyrainut-tr^e leaves fqueezed into water, or fait
^ The foUowing is alfo an excellent way, viz. Take a piece
pfliop-facky or other Terv coarfe tloth, and wafii it clean;
and let it dry ; then wet it in the liqaor wherein beef has
been boileil ; but be carefiil that the beef is frefh, for fait
will kill the worms, and wring it, but not quite dry ; pat
the worms into this cloth, analay them in an earthen pot,
and let them ftand from morning till night ; then take the
l^orms from the cloth, and waih it, and wet it again in fome
of the liqnor : do thns once a day, and yon may keep worms
in perfed health, and fit for nfe, for near a month.
Obferve that the lob-worm, marfii-worm, and red-
worm, will bear morefconring than any others, and are
better for long keeping.
i^ Cfatoralifts reckon above two hundred.
in
gz ST'^ C(>MPLE,TE Angler. Parti.
in water, to make it bitter or fait, and then that
water poured on the ground, where you JDhall fee
worms are ufed to rife in the night, will make
them to appear above ground prefently. And you
may take notice, fome fay that camphire put in-
to your bag with your mofs and worms, gives
them a ftrong and fo tempting a fnlell, that the
fifb fare the worfe and you the better for it.
And now I fhall Ihew you how to bait your
hook with a worm, fo as (hall prevent you from
much trouble, and the lofs of many a hook too,
when you fi(h for a Trout with a running-line * 5
that is to fay, when you fifli for him by hand at
the ground : I will dired you in this ais plainly as
I can, that you may not miftake.
Suppofe it to be a big lob- worm, put your hook
into him fomewhat above the middle, and out
^ain a little below the middle : having fo done,
draw your worm above the arming of your hook;
but note, that at the entring of your Hook it
muft not be at the head-end of the worm, but
{Jt the tail-end of him, that the point of your
fiook may come out toward the head- end, and
* The ronning-lioe, ib tailed bectufe it runs a!o&g the
' groondy is made ofilroDg iiJk, which yott may buy at the
fiihtng-tackle ihops.; hut I prefer haii:, sls being leB apt to
tangle, and is thu^ fitted up. Aboat ten inches from the
end faden a fmaU cleft ihoc ; then make a hole through a
piJlol or muiket- bullet, according to the fwiftnefs or the
llream you £ih in, and pat the line through It, and draw the
Imllet down to the ihot : to the end of your line fa(!en aa
/W/^Tff grafs, or filk-worm-g-ut, with a large hook : or you
may, inilead of a bullet, £x four large (hot,, at thediilance
of eight inches from the hook. The running-line is ufed
for Trout, Gray ling, and Salnion^fnielts, and is proper
oiily for iVreams and rapid waters. See Part II. CHap. 11.
haviog
Chap. V. The Complete Angler. 93
having drawn him above the arming of your
' hook, then put the point of your hook again
into the very head of the worm, till it come
near to the place where the point of the hook
firft came out ; and then draw back that part of
the worm that was above the (bank or arming
of your hook, and fo Bfh with it. And if you
mean to fifli with two worms, then put the fe-
cond on before you turn back the hook's-hcad
of the firft worm ; you cannot lofe above two or
three worms before you attain to what I direft
you ; and having attained it, you will find it
' very ufeful, and thank me for it, for you will
run on the ground without tangling.
Now for the minnow or penk ; he is noteaHly
found and caught till March^ or in ylpril^ for
t^en he appears firft in the river, nature having
taught him to (helter and hide Iiimfelf in the
winter in ditches that be near to the river, and
there both to hide and keep himfelf warm in the
mud or in the weeds, which ret not fo foon as
in a running river; in which place if he were in
winter, the diftempercd floods that are ufuaily in
that feafon, would fufFcr him to take no reft,
but carry him headlong to mills and wears to
his confufion. And ot thefe minnows, firft you
are to know, that the biggcft fize is not the beft •
and next, that the middle fize and the whiteft are
the beft : and then you are to know, that your
minnow muft be fo put on your hook, that it muft
turn round when *tis drawn againft the ftrcam ;
and that it may turn nimbly, you muft put it on
a big-fized hook, as I (hall now dired you, which
is thus. Put your hook in at his mouth and out at
his gill, then having drawn your hook two or three
inches beyond or through his gill, put it again
into
14 ^^^ CoM^tKTE Anglrr. Pmh
into his mouth, and the point and beard out at
his tail,^ and then tie the hook and his tail^
• < ■ It
about very neatly with a white thready which will
make it the apter to turn quick in the water :'
that done^ pull back that part of yoOr line whkh
was flack when you did put your hook into the
minnow the fecond tiniie ; I fay^ pull that part of
your line back fo that it fliall faften the bead, fcf
that the body of the minnow (hall be almofS
ftrait on your hook v this donc^ try how Id
will turn by drawing it erofs the water or againft
a fLream4 and if it do not turn nimbly, then turn
the tail a little to the right or left hand, and try
again till it turn quick •, for if not, you are irt
danger to catch nothing-, for know, that it is-
impoflible that it ftiould turn too quick : and yoa
are yet to know, that in cafe you want a minnow,
then a fmall loach or a ftickle*bag- oj* any other
fmall fith that will turn quick, will ferve ^s well.
And you are yet to know, that you may fait
them, and by that mean^ keep them ready and
fit for ufe three or four days, or longer, and thaB
of fait, bay-falt is the beft.
And here let me tell you, what many old
Anglers know right well, that at fome times, ancJ
in fome waters, a minnow is not to be got; m6
therefore kt me tell you, I have, which I wilt
Ihew to you, an artificial minnow, that m\i
catch a Trout as well as an artificial fiy ; and i£
was made by a handfome woman that had a finer
hand, and a live minnow lying, by her: th<$
mould or body of the minnow was cloth, and^
wrought upon or over it thus with a needle: the;
back of it with very fad French green filk, and'
paler green filk towards the belly, fliadowed as*
perfectly as you can imagine, j;uft as you fee a)
mrtfrigW i
Chap. V. ^be Complete A^gI^r. ^3
minnow ; the belly was wrought alfo with a
needle, and it was a part of it white (ilk, and
another part of it with filvcr thread \ the tail
and fins were of a quill, which was (haven thin }
the eyes were of two little black beads^ and the
head* was fo (badowed, and all of it fo curioufly
wrought, and fo exactly difTembled, that it
would beguile any (harp-(ighted Trout in a fwifc
iiream. And this minnow I will now (hew you ;
look, here it is : and if you like it, lend it you,
to have two or three made by it, for they be
eaQly carried about an Angler, and be of excel-
lent ufe ; for note, that a large Trout will come
as fiercely at a minnow, as the higheft mettled
hawk doth fcizeon a partridge, or a grey-hound
on a hare. I have been told, that 160 minnows
have been found in a Trout's belly ; cither the
Trout had devoured fomany, or the miller that
gave it a friend of mine had forced them down
is throat after he had taken him.
No>y for flies, which are the third bait where-
with Trouts are ufually taken. You are to
know, that there are as many forts of flies as
there be of fruits : I will name you but fome of
them, as the dun-fly, the (lone-fly, the red-fly,
the moor-fly, the tawny- fly, the (hell- fly, the
cloudy' or black-fly, the flag-fly, the vine-fly:
there be of ilies, caterpillars, and canker-flies,
and bear- flies, and indeed too many either for
me to name or for you to remember: and
their breeding is fo various and wonderful, that
I might eafily amaze myfelf, and tire you in a-
relation of them.
And yet 1 will exerciic your promifed patience
by faying a little of the caterpillar, or the pal-
mer*
g6 Slt^ CoMPLEtB Angler. Pirt L
mer-fly oft worm, that by them you may? guefs
what a work it were in a difcourfe but to run
over thofc very many flies, worms, and little
living creatures, with which the fun and fummci'
adorn and beautify the river, banks, and mea-
dows, both for the recreation and contemplation
of us Anglers ; pleafUres which, I think, myfelf
enjoyed more than any other man that ii not of
my profeflion.
Pliny holds an opinion, that many have their
birth or being from a dew that in the fprifig falls
upon the leaves of trees -, and that fome kinds of
them are from a dew left upon herbs or flowers ;
and others from a dew left upon coleworts or
cabbages. All which kinds of dews being
thickened and condenfed, are by the fun's gene-
rative heat moft of them hatched, and in three
days made living creatures * -, and thefc of feveral
ihapes and colours ; fome being hard and tough^
fome fmooth and foft ; fome are horned in their
head, fome in their tail, fome have none : fome
have hair, fome none : fome have fixteen feet,
fome lefs, and fome have none 5 but, as oui*
,,.__._ Topfel hath, with great diHgencd
i}trf£? oblerved, thofe which bavd riorte,
move upon the earth, or Upon brdad
leaves, their motion being not unlike to the waves?
of the fca. Some of them he alfo obfer^^tfs to be'
bred of the eggs of other caterpillars, arid that
' •*Tb« do£lrineof fpontaneou$ ot equivoetl generation, is'
imWvnS^vfally exploded } and all the t)teRdfrte)j^a ^al (ednl
to fupport it, are accounted for on other principles. Siee
Utrbaiii^^^hyf, ^heoL Chap. 15. and the authorities there
cited. As alfo Mr. Ray\ ^ifdom of God manjfefiei in thi
^mrkt of the crfotion, 298. and Fratu. Rgdt di (Jtn. InfiB.
* thofe
Ghap, V. J'j^)?. Complete Angler. 97
thofe in their time turn to be butterflies: and
again, that their eggs turn the following year to
be caterpifllars *. And fome affirm, that every
plant has his particular fly or caterpillar, which
it breeds and feeds. I have feen, and may there-
fore affirm it, a. green caterpillar, pr worm,' as
big as a fmall peafcod, which had fourteen leg$^
eight on the belly, four under the neck, and two
near the tail. It was found on a hedge of privet^
and was taken thence, and put into a large box,
and a little branch or two of privet put to it, on
which I faw it feed as fliarply as a dog gnaws a
bone : it lived thus five or fix days, and thrived,
and changed the colour two or three times^ but
by fome neglect in the keeper of it, it then died
and did not turn to a fly : but if it had lived, it
'had doubtlefs turned to one^of thofe flies that
fome call flies of prey, which thofe that walk by
the rivers may in fummer fee fafl'en on fmaller
flies, and I think make them their food. And
*tis obfcrvable, that as there be thefe flies of prey
which be very large, fo there be others very little,
created, I think, only to feed them, and breed
out of I know not what •, whofe life, they fay,
nature intended not to exceed an hour t, and
yet
• V^hocver is dcfirous.of knowing more of • caterpillars^
and of the feveral flies prod aced by them» may con fait 7<9«0-
nei Goedariius di InfiSiis^ with the appendix of Dx. Lifier^
Lond, 8vOy 1685.
f That there are cr^at^res ** whofe life nature intended not
*< to exceed an hoar,*' is, I believe, not fo well aptfi^d, as that
there are fome whofe exiHence is determined m five or fix.
It is well known that the ephemeron, that wonderful inftanoe
of the care and providence of God, lives bat from fix in the
evQmng till about eleven at pight; during which time it per-
H foxa^^
98 3^^^ Complete Angler. Part F.
yet that life is thus made feorter by other fliesF,
or accidervt.
forms all the animal fon£lions : for, in tbe beginning of its
life, it iheds its coat ; and that being done, and the poor
little animal thereby rendered light and agile^ it ipends the
reft of its ihort time in friiking over the waters : the k*
male drops her eggs, which are impregnated by the male ;
thefe being fpread about, defcend to the bottom by tlreir
own gravity, and are hatched by the warmth of the fua
into little worms, which make themfelves cafes in the clay»
and feed on the fame without any need of parental care.
Fide Ephem, Vitay tranflated by Dr. Tjfen^ {fom Swammer*
dami See alfo Derb, Phyf, Thiol, 247.'
' And to the truth of the aifertion, that this animal fheds-
its coat, I myfelf am a wicnefs: for, being a fiihing one
furom^r evening, at about feven o'clock, Ifuddenly obferved
my cloaths covered with a number of very fmall flies, of a
whitifh colour, inclining to blue : they continued fixed,
while 1 obferved thofe on my left'arm wriggle their bodies
about^ tifll at length they difengaged themfelves from their
external coat, which they left, and flew away ;. bnt what
greatly afionifhed me was, that the cafes to the three whi&s
which each of thofe creatures had at its tail, which were
tenderer than the fined hair, and, but for their whitenefs
wot>ld have been fcarce perceptible, were left as entire and
unbroken as the lefs tender parts of the coat.
Similar to this is the relation in Bo<ivlker^ communicated
to hinrby a gentleman, an accurate obferver of nature's pro-
dgdiions, concerning the fly called the grey drake; of which
mention is made in Cotton^s Lift of Flies for May \ which
relation I fhall give in his own words.
*' r happened to walk by the river-fide at that feafon of
** the year wheA the May- flies (he means the grey fort) which
** are a fpeeres of the libella, come up out of the water ;
'' where they lie in their hufks» for a confiderable time,, at
** the bottom or fides of the xxvtr^ near the likenef^ of the
** nymph of the fmall common libella^ bm when it is ma-
'' ture, it fplits open its cafe,^ and then, with gfeat agility,
'* up fprings the new little animal, with a ffender body, four
'* blackifh veined tranf^pareat wings, with four black fpdts
C/iap. V. The Complete An^clbr. ..99
'Tis cndlefs to tell you, what the cucious
fearchers into nature's produfbions have obferved
of ihefe worms and flies : but yet I (hall jcell you
what
cc
on the upper wings^ and the.ander wings mscb fmtlto
than the upper ones» with three fong hairs in its tail. TIfe
** hufks, which are left behind, float innamerable on tire
water. Ic feemed to me a fpecies of ephenreroB, and 'I
imagined it was the fame infect defcribed by Go§dart attd
Snjoammirdam ; but a few days convinced ftie to the con-
trary, for I foon found them to be of longer duration
*' than theirs. The firft bufinefs of this creature, after hfe
** is difengaged from the water, ii flying about to fin4oat
a proper place to fix on, as trees, bu flies, tfr. to wait for
another fnrprizing change, which is eflfe^led io two or
** three %ays. The firft hint I received of this wonderful
operation, was feeing the exuvia hanging on a hedge : 1
then coiieded a great many, and put them in boxes, and,
by flriftly obferving them, I could tell when they were
ready to put off their cloaths, though but fo lately put on.
I had the pleafure to fliew my friends one that I held on
my finger all the while it performed this great work. Ic
was furprizing to fee how eafy the back part of the fly
fplitopen, and produced the new birth ; which I could
not perceive partakes of any thing from its parent, but
leaves head, body, wings, legs, Ind even its three* haired
tail behind on the cafe. After it has repoied itfelf awhi!e,
it flies, with great brtfknefs, to feekits mate, in the new
fly a remarkable diflTerence is feen in thctriexet, which I
could notfoeafily perceive in their firflilate, them'aieand
female being then much of a fize ; but now the male was
much the fmallefl, and the hairs inhi« tail much thelong-
efl. I was very careful to fee ifl could find tHem ingen-
dering ; but all that I could discover was, that the males
feparated, and kept under cover of the tree«, i«ra6tdfrom
** the river ; hither the females teforted, and mixed* with
them in their flight, great numbers together, with avery
brifk motion of darting or'flriking at onr another when
they met, with great vigour, jail as houfe-flies will do in
<< a funny room : This they continued to do for many hours,
<* and this feemed to be their way of coition ; which muft be
quick, and foon performed, as they are of fo fliort a dura-
• : H 2 *• tion*
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(
■fbb Ybe CoMFLETE Angler* Partly
iwrhat Mdravandus •^ our 'f&ffel, and others fay of
the palmer- worm or eaa^crpitlar, that whereas
Others* content thcmfclvcs to fted on particular
<«
tioii. When- the feaiales werehnpregDated, they left the
*^'cmh^a»y^of iIm iiiales» And fought the river, atid kept
^^.cotiftaauy playing '^ aikd dowp on the water. It wa»
^ very plainly («eii»every time thej^ darted down they ejed-*
** ed a eldfter of eg^gs* which feemed a pale blaiib fpeck^
'^ lik^a fmall dropofstiilk, as theydefceaded on the water ;
** tiien, by the help of their tail they fpriag up again»
and defcen^ again ; and thus continue till they have ex-
handed their (lock of eggs, and fpent their Ibength, be*
Ing fo weak that they can rife no naorex but fall a prey ta
** the fiih ; blit by siuch the greateft nnsibers perifh on the
*^ 'Waters, which are Covered with them* This is the end of
**" .the feinaks» But the males never refort to the fivers, as I
<< coald perceive ^ bat, after they bave done thieir pfHce,
« drop dowfiy languilh and die under the tveesand bu&es.
^* I ofof^ved that the females wtfre molt atimerous ; whicb
*^ was very necefiary, confidemg the many enemies they
^/ li'ave; dufiiig the &ort time of their appea^rance, for botb
^* 1>irds and iiSi are very fond of them; ^i^dv so dou'bt*
" under the wdter, they are food for fmall aqua^k infeifls..
*^ What is further r^markaUein this fiirprising creature is,
** that, in a life of a few days, it eats nothing, feems to have
*' jio apparatus for that purpofe, but brings up wit^it, ooc
^ of the water, fufficientfupport to enable it tO'Oied its ^tn»
<* and perform the principal end of Hfe with great vivacity.
^^ The pardcoUf time wheal obferved them very numerous
** and fportive» was on the s^.th of May , at fix o'clock in
*' .the eveMig* it was a fight very furpHsdng and enter-
^-^ taioing,.tofee the rivers teeming with innumerable pretty
^^ nimble flyang tnA^s, andaUnoft every thing near cover-
** ed with thenk When I looked up Iq the air, it wa$ full
of theniy as hi^li as I could difeern ; and being ib thick,.
and aimys in motion, they made altnofl fuch an appearance
** as when one looks up, aiid hes the fnow coming down;
and yet this wonderftd a^pea«ance, in three or four day»
♦» after the laft of Maj^ totally drfappeared/' B9fwlker^ 67.
* C/^e^/ Aldrovavdus^ a great phyiiciaA and naturaliil of
Bdognav he wrote 1 20 books on feveral fnbje&». aftd » trea-
tise de FifdbuSi pnbliihedat Frmftcfort, i^^-o.
Chap, V. The Comi>lbte Angler* wi
herbs or leaves ; for mod: chink thoie vecy leaves
char gave them life and (bape, gWe them a par-
tieular feeding and nourtfhment, and that upon
tbem they ufually abide ; yet he obierves^ that
this is called a pilerim or palmer-worm, for bis
very wandering lile and various food ; not con-
tenting himfelf, as others do, with any one certain
place for his i^x>de, nor any certain kind of herbs
or flowers for his feeding ; but will boldly and
diforderly wander upand down, and notcndure
to be kept to a diet, or fixt to a particular plaoc.
Nay, the very colours of caterpillars are^ as
one has obferved, very elegant and beautiful ; I
fliall, for a tafte of the reft, defcribe one of them,
which I will fometime the next mon^^h (hew you
feeding on a willow-tree, and you fhall find him
punftuaily to anfwer tbis very defcription ; his
lips ^nd mouth fomcwbat yellow, his eyes black
as jet, his forehead purple, his feet and hinder
parts grecAi h«s tail two forked and black, the
whole body ftained with a kind of red fpots
which run. along' the neck and (houlder* blade,
not unlike the form of St. Andrew's crofs, or
thq letter X, made thus crofs-wife, and a white
Jine drawn down his back to his tail ; all which
add much beauty to his whole body. And it is
to me obfervable, that at a fixed age this cater-
pillar gives over to eat, and towards winter comes
to be covered over with a ftrange (hell or cruft
called an aurelia^ and fo lives a kind of dead
life, without eating all the- winter; ^.^^ ^^yp^
and, as others of ftveral kinds tur<i Bacon's exfer,
to be feveral kinds of flies and ver- 728 W 90. /«
min the fpring following, fo this ^", ^^f^^
caterpillar then turns to be a painted '^i^^^*
butterfly. H 3 Come,
I02 fit^ Complete Angler, P^rtl.
Come, come my fcholar, you fee the river
ftops our morning- walk, and 1 will alfo hereftop
my difcourfe, only as we fit down under this
honey- fuckle hedgej whilft I look a line to fit the
rod that our bror;her Peter hath lent you, I fhall
for > a little confirmation of what I have fi^id*
repeat the obfervatiopof du Barla^:
• • •
God not contented to each kind to givey. 6. Dof of
And to infufe the virtue generative^ ^^ Bartas.
By ins wife power made maty creatures breeds
Of Ufelefs hdies without Venus deed.
So the cqU humour breeds the falamanderj
IVhOy in effeSly like to her birth* s commander.
With child with hundred winter^, with her touch
^encheth the fire tho* glowing n^er fo much^
So in the fire in burning furnace fprings,
J'he fly peraufia with the flaming wings ;
Without tbefirf it dies, in it it joys ,
living in that which all things elfe deftrdys.
4
So flow Bootes underneath him fees , Herbal ank
In th ^icy iflandsgaflings hatcV d of trees, Camden.
Whofe, fruitful leaves falling into the water.
Ate turned, Uis known, to living fgwls foon. aft^.
So rotten planks of broken Jhips do change
To barnacles. 0 transformation ftrange f
^Twas firft a green tree, then a broken hull.
Lately a mufhroom, now a flying gull.
Venat. O my good maftcr, this morning:
^walk has been fpcnt to my great pleafure and
wonder ;
Chap. V. The Complete Anoler. 103
wonder : but I pray, when (hall I have your
dire^^ion how to make artificial flies, like to
thofe that the Trout loves belit, and alfo how to
ufe them ?
Pi/c, My honeft fcholar, it is now paft five
of the clock, we will fifh till nintf, and then go
to breakfaft. Go you to yonder fycamore-trce,
and hide your bottle of drink under the hollow
root of it ; for about that time, and in that place,
we will make a brave breakfaft with a piece of
powdered bcefi and a radifli or to that I have
in my fifli-bag ; we (hall, I warrant you, make
a good, honeft, wholfome, hungry breakfaft,
and I will then give you direftion for the making
and uting of your flics : and in the mean time,
there is your rod and line, and my advice is,
that you fifh as you fee me do, and let's try
which can catch the firft fifh.
Ven. I thank you, matter, I will obferve an4
praftife your direftions as fana§ I am abfe^
Pi/c. Look you, fcholar, you fee I have hold
of a good fifli : I now fee it is a Trout, I pray
put that net under him, and touch not my line,
for if you do, then we break all. Well done
fcholar, I thank you*
Now for another, Truft me I have another
bite : come, fcholar, come lay down your rod,
and help me to land this as you did the other.
So, now we (hall be fure to have a good difh of
fiih-to fupper.
Fen. 1 am glad of that ; but I have no for-
tune: fure, mafter, your's is a better rod -and
better tackling.
Pf/c. Nay, then, take mine, and I will fifli
with your*s. Look you, fcholar, I have another •,
H 4 come '
104 The Complete' Angler. Part'L
come, do as you did before. And nbw I have
a bite at another : Oh nne ! he has' broke all \
there's half a line and a good hOCk' loft.
Ven. Ay, and a good Trout too.
Fife. Nay, the Trout is not loft, f6r pray
take notice no mail can lofe what he never had.
Ven, Matter^ I can neither catch with the
firft nor fecond angle : I have no fortune.
Fife. Look you, feKolar, I have yet another:
and now having caught three braee of Trouts, I
will tell you a ihort tale as we Walk towards our
breakfaft: afcholar, a preacher I (houJd fay, that
was to preach to procure the approbation of a
parifh that he might be their lefturer, had got
from his fellow piipil the cojJy of a fermbn that
was firft preached with great commendatibri by
him that compofed it \ and though the borrower
of it preached it word for word as it was at'
firft, yet it was utterly difliked as it was preached
by the fecond to his congregation : which the
lermon-borrower complained of to the lerider'of
it, andwas^thus anfwered ; " I lent you indeed my
^^^ fiddle, but not my fiddleftick ;** for you arc to .
know, that every ohe cannot make mufick with
my words, which are fitted to my own mouthl
And fo, my fcholar, you are to know, that as.
the ill pronunciation or ill accenting of words \t\
a fermon fpoils it, fo the ill carriage' of your line,
or not fiftiing even to a foot in a right place,
makes you lofe your labour; and you are to
know, that though you have my fiddle, that is^
my very rod and tacklings with which you fee I
catch fifti, yet you have not my fiddleftick ; that
is, you yet have not (kill to know how to car'ry
your hand and line, nor hovy to guide it to a
6 right
i
Tab^ According'tDAAof Rtrliinii* xn Sq.
Chap. V. Thi Complete Angler; 105
right place : and this muft be taught you, for
you are Co remember I told you angling is an
art, cither by praft ice, or a long bbfcrvation, or
both. But tal^e this for a rule, when you fi(h
for a Trout with' a Worn^ let your line have fo
much, and not more lead than will Bt the (tream
in which you fi(h ; that is to fay, more in a
great troublefome ftream than in a fnialler that
is quieter *, as near as may be, fo much as will
fink the bait to the bottom, and keep it Hill in
motion, and not more.
But now let's fay grace and fall to breakfaft :
what fay you, fcholar, to the providence of an
old angler? does not this meat tafte well ? and
was not this place well chofen to eat it ? for this
fycamore-tree will (hade us from the fun*s heat.
Fen. All excellent good, and my fbomach ex-
cellent good too. And now I remember and
find that true which devout Leffius • fays, " that
poor men, and thofe that fail often, have
much more pleafure in eating than rich men
and gluttons, that always feed before their
*f ftomachs are empty of their laft meat, and call
f^ for more : for by that means, they rob them-
^^ felVes of that pleafure that hunger brings to
f* poor men." And 1 do ferioufly approve of
|hat faying of your% " that you had rather be
tf a civil, well-governed, well grounded, tem-
^ Lionard Li0uSi a ▼erjr learned jefuit, profeilbr of di-
vinity ia the coQege of jefuits at L^wvarn ; he was born at
Anfwerp^ i $54, and became v^ry famous for his (kill in di-
vioity> civil law^ mathematics, phyiic, and hiilory: he
wrote feve^al theological trads.aod a orcatife de Sunmo Bpnoy
li 4eitm9 beaiudim Homitus ; from whence, it is probable^
the paflage in the text is cited. He died 1623.
" perate.
cc
ip6 72^ Complete Angler. PartL
" peratc, poor angler, than a drunken lord."
But I hope there is none fuch ; however, 1 a^^
certain of this, that I have been at many very
coftly dinners that have not afforded me half the
content that this has done, for which I thank
God and you.
And now, good matter, proceed to your pro-
mifcd direftion for making and ordering my ar-
tificial fly.
Piji. My honeft fcholar I will do it, for it
is a debt due unto you by my promife ; and be-
caufe you (hall not think yourfelf more engaged
to me than indeed you really are, I will freely
give you fuch direftions as were lately given to
me by an ingenious brother of the angle, an
honed man, and a mod excellent fly-fi(her.
You are to note, that there are twelve kinds
of artificial made-files to angle with upon the
top of the water. Note by the way, that the
fitted feafon of ufing thefe, is a bludering windy
day, when the waters are fo troubled that the
natural fly cannot be fecn, or red upon them.
The fird is the diin-fly in March, the body is
made of dun wool^ the wings of the partridge's
feathers. The fecond is another dun-fly, the
body of bkck wool, and the wings made of the
black drake's feathers, and of the feathers under
his tail. The third is the done-fly in /fprili the
body is made of black wool made yellow under
the wings, and under the tail, and fo made with
wings of the drake. The fourth is the ruddy-
fly in the beginning of May^ the body made of
red wool wrapt ^bout with black filk, and the
feathers are the wings, of the drake, with the
feathers oF a red capon alfo, which hang danglmg
6 - on
Qiap. V. 5*i>^ Complete Angler. 107
on his fide next the tail. The fifth is the yd-
low or grecniQi-fly, in May Hkewifc, the body
made of yellow wool, and the wings made of the
red cock's hackle or tail. The fixth is the black-
fly, in May alfo, the body made of black wool,
and lapt about with the herle of a peacock's tail ;
the wings are made of the wings of a brown
capon, with his blue feathers in his head. The
feventh is the fad yellow- fly in Juncy the body
13 made of black wool, with a yellow lift on
either fide, and the wings taken off* the wings
of a buzzard, bound with black braked hemp.
The eighth is the moorifli-fly, made with the
body of dufkiOi wool, and the wings made of
the blackiQi mail of the drake. The ninth is
the tawny-fly, good until the middle of June\
i^e bbdy made of tawny wool, the wings made
contrary one againft the other, made of the
whitifli mail of the wild drake. The tenth is the
wafp^fly in July^ the body made of black wool,
iapt about with yellow filk, the wings made of
the feathers of the drake, or of the buzzard.
The eleventh is the (hell-fly, good in Mtd-Julyy
the body made of greenilh wool, lapt about with
the herle of a peacock's tail, and the wings made
of the wings of the buzzard. The twelfth is the
dark drake-fly, good in Augvfi^ the body made
with black wool, lapt about with black filk: his
wings are made with the mail of the black drake,
with a black head. Thus have you a jury of flies,
likely to betray and condemn all the Trouts in
the river *.
I
? I^ has been already obfcrved, that WahctCs excellence,
as an angler, did not confift in fly-fifhing : the reader is
therefore
io8' ^he Complete Ai^rGLEit. Part L
t ihall n€xt give youfome other dircdionsfor
fly-fi(hing, fuch as are given by Mn Thomas
barker *; a gentleman that hath ipent much
' time
tl^erefore- recommended to the -lift of flies in tliefecoad pftrt^
and frhfi additions contained in tke notes thereon.
• *'It isfupppfed that the rea^Jef is by this time npt wholly
ignorant who this gentleman w^s,, as mention is made of him
in the author'3 lif6. We have. already given the dedication
to his Art of Anglittg^ and here now follow fdme extra^
ffOjA that humorous piece itfelfi Addreffing himfeJf to the
iioUe lord 'tQ whom .Ivis bpok^ is .dedicated, he^hus begins :
^ *' Und^er favour, I will compliment, and put a caff^
" to your honour, i met with a man, and upon our dif-
'* courfe he fell out with me^ having a good weapon, but
*< neither ftomach nor &ill : I fay. tb'u man maj cetm h^me
** hy Weepf^g-chift ; I will f«ig/J the ehrk io toU his kneli*
*' it is the very likjs cafe to the gentleman angler, that
'^ goeth to the river for his pleauire : This angler hatk
** neither judgment nor experience : he may come hom&
*' ligbtlyt laden at his kifare.— r— ^ .
^^^^** Allien ^hatgpeth to theriver for his pleafu^e, m|](t
*' underdand, when he cotneth there, X^fet forth his tacklt,
<*' The firft thing he muil do, is to obferve the nvind and
^^ fun for dny^ the moony t\ktflarsy and the myanes cf the air
•* for nighff to fet firth his tackles for d^iy or night; and
^' accordingly to-gp for his plea^fufe and fome profit.
*' Now I am determined to angle with the groui^d-
*' baits, and fet my tackles to vay rod, zn^goto my pleafm-t,
** I begin' at the uppermofl part of the (Iream, carrying my
«*^ line with an upright hand, feeling my plummet ronning
*< truly on* the ground fome ten inches fi^om th& hpok,
plumming my line according to the fwiftnefs of the
ftream I angle in ; for one plummet witl not ferve for all
Jlreams ; for the true angling is, that the plummet run
** truly 4)n the ground. ;
•* My lord fent to roe, at fun going down, to pro-
,*' vide him a good diih of Trouts againftthe next morning,
** by fix o'clock*. I went to the door to fee ho<w ihe ixsanes
*' of the air nxjere like to prove. 1 returned an Twer, that I
** doubted not, God willing, but to be provided at the time
*' ajppainrcd.
Chap, V. ^be Complete Angler. 109
time in fifhing : but I (hall do ic 'with a little
variation.
Firft, let your lod be light, and very gentle,
I
u
appointed. I went pfefently to the nwtr, aad it eroded
** very dark : I threw out a line of three filks and three
hairs twifted, for the uppermoft part, and a line of twa
hiiirs and two filks twilled, for the lower part, with a good
large hdok. 1 baited tay hook with two lob* worms,
the four ends hanging as noeet as I conld gaefs them in
the dark ; I fell to angle. It proved very dark, fo that
t had good fport, angling with the lob-worms as I do
with the flies, on the top of the water ; you fhall hear the
*''fifk rife at the top of the water ; then you muft loofe a
^ flack line down to the bottom, as nigh as yon can guefs ;
then hold your line (Irait, feeling the fifh bite ; give time»
there is no doabt of lofing the fiih, for there is not one
amongft twenty bu^ d6th gorge the bait ; the leaft Uroke
" you can ftrike fallens the hoek, and makes the fiih fare,
*' letting the £01 -take a tutn or two, you may take him up
with your hands. The night began to alter, and grow
fomewhat lighter ; I took off the lob-worms, and fet
to my rod a white palmer- fly, made of a large hook ;
' ** I had good fport for the time, until it grew lighter : fo I
*' took Off the white palmer, and fet to a red palmer, made
of a large book ; I had good fport until it grew vry
light : then I took b£ the red palmer, and fet to a black
** palmer ; I bad good fport, and made tip the difh of fiih.
So I put up my tackles, and was with my lord at his
** time appointed for the fervice.
^hefe three flies, with the help of the lob-worms,
ferve to angle all the year for the night ; obferving the
times as I have (hewed you in this night- work, the white
** fly for darkneis, the red fly in medio, and the black fly
for lightnefs. This is the true experience for angling in
the night; wliich is the fureft angling of all, and killeth
the greatefl Trouts. Your lines may be flrong, but
muft not be longer than your rod. ^
Now, having taken a gcdd difli of Trouts, I prefented
** them tomylordj behaving provided good company,
** commanded me to turn cook and drefs them for
*• dian?*.«— *r
" The're
•I
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it
•c
•I
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M
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no ^be Complete Angler. Part f .
1 take the bett to Be of two pieces *, and let not
your line exceed, efpccially for three or four
links next to the hook, I fay, not exceed three or
four hairs at the mod, though you may fifli a
little ftronger above in the upper part of your
line : but if you Can attain to angle with one
hair, you fhall have more rifes and catch more
fifh. Now you muft be fure not to cumber
yourfclf with too long a line, as moft do : and
before you begin to angle, caft to have the wind
on your back, and the fun, if it (hines, to be
before you, and to fi(h down the ftream ; and
carry the point or top of your rod downward,
by which means the (hadow of yourfelf and rod
too, will be the lead ofFenfive to the fifh 5 for the
fight of any (hade amazes the fifh, and fpoils
your fport, of which you muft take great care/
In the middle of March^ till which time a mah
fliould not in honefty catch a Trout, or in Aprils
if the weather be dark, or a little windy or
'** There comes an honed gentleman, a familiar
•* Tfiend, to me, he was an angler, begins to compliment
** with me, and afked me how I did ? when I liad beea
•* angling ? and demanded, in dlfcourfe, what was the rea-
•* fon I did not relate in my book the drefling oi hisdijh of
'* fijhy which he loved ? / pray you^ Sir^ wchat dijh of
'* Trouts lAjas jhai ? He faid, it was a difli of clofe-boll^
** 'Fi'duts, buttered with eggs. My anfwer was to him, that
•* e^very fcuUion df ejfeih that diJh againft his nvill^ becaufe he
'•* cannot cahor them, I wrtl tell you in (hort : Put yoiif
** Trouts into the kettle when the kettle is fet to the fire,
'* and let them boil gently, as many cooks do, and they
** (hall boil clofe enough ; which is a good dilh, buttered
'* with eggs, good for ploughmen, but not for the palate.
•* Sir, 1 hope 1 have given you fciti-faSiion.^*
• For your rod, and alfo for a fly-line, take the di-
le^Ttions contained in the notes on Chao. xxi. '
cloudy,
Chap, V, Tbe Complete Angler, hi
cloudy, the beft fifliing is with the palmer worm,
of which I laft fpokc to you, but of thefe there
be divers kinds, or at leaft of divers colours ;
thefe and the May-fly are the ground of all fly-
angling, which are to be thus made.
Firft, you mufl: arm your hook with the line
in the infide of it, then take your fciflars, and
cut fo much of a brown mallard's feather as in
your own reafon will make the wings of it, you
having withal regard to the bignefs or littlenefs
of your hook ; then lay the outmoft part of your
feather next to your hook, then the point of
your feather next the (bank of your hook ^ and
having fo done, whip it three or four times about
the hook with the fame (ilk with which your
hook was armed, and having made the filk fail,
take the hackle of a cock or capon's neck, or a
plover'^ top, which is ufually better: take off
the one (ide of the feather, and th^ take the
hackle, filk, or crewel, gold or filver thread,
make thefe fafl: at the bent of the hook, that is
to fay, below your arming ; then you mufl take
the hackle, the filver or gold thread, and work
it up to the wings, (hifting 'or ftill removing
your finger, as you turn the filk about the hook :
and ftill looking at every ftop or turn, that your
gold, or what materials focver you make your fly
of, do lie right and neatly -, and if you find they
do fo, then when you have made the head, make
all faft : then work your hackle up to the head,
and make that faft : and then with a needle or pin
divide the wing into two, and then with the
armed filk whip it about crofs-ways betwixt the
wings, and then with your thumb you muft turn
the point; of the feather towards the bent of the
. hook.
112 T'i&tf Complete Anglfr. Partly
hook, and then work three or four times about
the (hank of the hook, and then view tbc pro-
portion, ^nd if it be neat and to your Hking
fallen. ^
I confefs, no jdireftion can be given JEO make
a man of a dull capacity . able to make a fly*
well: and yet I know, this with a littk pra&ice
will help an ingenious angler in a good degree :
bat to fee a fly made by an artifl; in that kind,
is the befl: teaching to make it ; and then an in-
genious angler may walk by the river and mark
what flies fall on the water that day, and catch
one of them, if .he fees the Trout leap at a fly
of that kind ; and then having always hooks
ready hungvwith him, and having a bag alfo al-
ways with him, with bear's hair, or the hair of a
brown or fad-coloured heifer, hackles of a
cock or a capon, feveral coloured filk and
crewel to' make the body of the fly, the feathers
of a drake's head, black or brown ihfeep*s wool,
or hog's w^l, or hair, thread of gold and of fiU
• ver i filk of feveral colours, efpocially fad-colour-
ed, to make the fly's head ; and there be alio
other coloured i'i^athers, both of little birds and
- of fpeckled fowl •, I>fay, having thofe with him *
in a bag +, and trying to make a fly, though he
mifs
* The author not having particularly enumerated the ma-
terials neceflary for fly-making, it will not be improjper,
once for all, to do it here. And firft, You muft be provided
with bear's hair of divers colours; as grey, dun, fight and
dark coloured, bright brown, andthat which ihines : alio
tamel's hair, dark/ light, and of a colour between both :
ba«jger's hair, or fur: fpaniel's hair from behind the
ear, light and dark-brown, blackiOi and black : hog's
down.
For the note to this \ reference alove, fee page 115.
Chap. V. 7%^ CoMPLETS Angler. 113
mifs at firft, yet daM he at laft hie it better, even
to fuch a perfeftion, as none can well teach him ;
and if he hit to make his fiy right, and have the
luck to hit alfo where there is ftore of Trouts, a
dark
down, which may be had, about Chriftmast of botchers, or
rather of thofe that make brawn ; it fliould be plucked from
under the throat, and other foft places of the hog, and muft
be of the following colours, ntix* black, red, whitifli, and
fandy ; and for other colours, you may get them dyed at m
dyer's : feal's fur, is to be had at the trunk-maker's ; get
this aUb dyed of the colours of cow's and calve's hair, in
all the diiferent (hades, from the light to the darkeft
brown ; you will then never need cow's or calve's hair ;
both which are harib, and will never work kindly, nor lay
bandfomely : get alfo mohairs, black, blue, purple, white*
violet ; IfabeUa^ which colour is defcribed in a note oa
Cotton's flies for March. PhiUmet^ from feuilU mortis a
dead leaf, yellow and orange : camlets* both hair and
worfled, blue, yellow, dun, light and dark brown, rtd^
violet, purple, black, horfe-flefli, pink, and prange eo*
lours. Some recommend the hair of abortive colts and
calves ; but feal's for dyed, as above, is much better.
A piece of an old Turkey carpet «411 fumifh excellent
dubbing : untwift the yam, and pick out the wool, care-
fully feparating the different colours, and lay it by.
Some ufe for dubbing barge-faiJ, concerning which the
reader is to know, that the (ails of Weft-coantry and other
barges, when old, are ufnally converted into tilts, under
which there is almoit a - continual fmoak arifiog from the
fire and the fleam of the beef- kettle ; which all mch barges
carry, and which, in time, dyes the tilt of a fine brown ;
this would be excellent dubbine, but that the material of
thefe fails is fheep's wool, which foaks in the water, and
ibon becomes vtty heavy : however, get of this ,as many
different fhades as you can, and have feal's fur and hog*
wool dyed to match them ; which, by reafon they are more
turgid, fliff and light, and fo float better, are, in mofl cafes,
to be preferred to worfled, crewels, and, indeed, to every
other kind of wool; and obferve that the hog«wool is bei^
for large, and the feal's fur forfmall flies.
I Get
114 . STi^^ , Complete Angler. Parti.
dark day,, and a right wind, he will catch fucb
ftore of them, as will encourage him to grow more
and more in love with the art of fiy -making.
Venaii But, my loving mafter, if any wind
will not ferve, then I wi& I were in Lapland^ to
hxxf
Get alfe far»of rite fbllowkig animali!, mix. ^e fquirrel^r
pariicalarly from his uil ; fox-cub^ from the tail where it
18 downy» and of as afli -colour ; an old fox, an old otter^
otcer-cubi badrer,^ fslimart, or filmert; a hare» from the-
necky whe«e it is of the colonr of withered fern ; and above
all, the jrellow fur of the martern^ ^m off the gills of
fpots i>nde> the jaws. All thefe, and almofb every othev
kind of far, are eafily got at the furriers.
Haekles^ are a very important article in fly-making t
they are the long Sender feathers that hang from the head*
<>f a cock down his neck f there may alfo be fine ones goa?
from near his tail; be careful that they are not too rank^
which they are when the fibres are mofe than half an inch-
long r and for fome pforpoies thefe are moch too big : be
provided with thefe of the followisg colours, v/gs. red» dun^
yeilowifli, white, orange, and pcrfe£k black, and whenever
you meet, ali^e or dead, with a cock of the game-breed^
whofe hackJe is of a iiirong brownrredy. never fail to buy
htm ; btic obferve that the feathers of a cockrchtcken, be
they ever fo fine i%T (hape and colour, are good for little ;:
for they are too downy and weak to ^and ere^ after they
are once wety and fo iH thoTeof the bantam-cock.
Feathers are abfolotely neceffary for the wings^^and'othep
parts of f! iesf^; get therefbre feathers f^om the back and othev
parts of the wild mallard,, or drake, the feathers of a-par-
tridge, efpetially thoie red ones that are in the tail : fea<*
thers from a cock-pheafant's breaft and tail, the wings of
a bkckbird, a browa hen, of a ilarling, a jay, a land-raily
athrdftle, a fieM^re, and a water-coet ; the feathers fron»
the erowft of the pewits plover, or lapwing ; green and
copper-colouh;d peacock'^s and black oftrich herle ; featlwr»
from a heron's neck and wings ; and remember, that ia
tnoft inftances, where the drake^s or wild mallard's fea-
ther is hereafter direded^ that from a. ibrling's win^.
wiu
Chap, V. ^i Complete Angler; 115
buy a good wind of one of the honeft witches>
that fell fo matny winds there, and fb cheap,
Fife. Marry, fcholar, byt I would not be
there, nor indeed from under this tree; for look
how it begins to rain, and by the clouds, if I
miftake
vill do macb better, as being of a finer graioi and left
^ungy.
Be provided with marking-filk of all colours, fine, bat
very ftron^, flaw-filk, gold and filver flatted wire or twift^
a iharp knife, hooks of all fixes, hog's-briflles for loops
to your flies, fiioemaker's-wax, a large needle to raufe your
dabbing when flatted with workings and a Cnali bot iharjp
pair of fciflTars.
And laftly, if any nateriak required in the fabfeqnent
fifts of flies may have been omitted iq the foregoing cata*
logueiube careful to add them to your former flock as often
as you fliall find any fach omifltons.
Remember, with all yoar dubbing, to mix bear*s-hair
and hog*s-wool, which are ftifi^, and not apt to imbibe tho
water, as the fine furs, and mofl other kind of dubbing
do : and remember alfo, that martern's fur is the beft yel-
low you can ufe.
t The ufe of a bag is attended with many inconvenienciest
of which, the mixing and wafting your materials are not the
leafl ; to prevent which, the following method is recom*
mended ; take a piece of fine-grained parchment, of fevea
inches by nine^ and fold it fothat the ^lA and proportioa
of it will be that of a fmall odlavo volume ; then open it*
and through the firft leaf, with a fliarp penknife and a
ruler, make three crofs cuts, at the fame proportionable
diftance as thofe in PlatelX. Fig. i. and with a needle
and filk flitch the two leaves together, as in that iigxxxfii
let each of the margins be half an inch at leaft.
Then, with a pair of compafles, take the diflance from
A to B, and fet it on in the middle of a fmajl piece of
parchment ; and likewife fet on the fame diftance to the
right and left, and at each extremity cut ofi^, with a pen-
knife and ruler the fpare paxchmeut, obfcrving that the
fides are exaAly parallel.
la At
ir6 5l&tf Complete ANGtER. PartP.
miftakc not, we fliall prcfently have a fmoaking-
(hower, and therefore fit clofe, this fycamore-
tree will (belter us r and I will tell you, as they
fhall come into iny mind, m^re obfervations of
fly-filhing for a Trout.
But
At aboat a quarter of an inch from the top, make a cut
through the firft and' third divifions^ and, y^ixh a pair of
fciflars, fnip out the loofe pieces.
Then fet on. the diftance from A to Cy and cut as before,
leaving the middle divifion an inch longer at bottom than
the others : when thi« is done, your parchment will have
the fhape and proportion of Wg. z» and you may cut* the
upper nap as it appears^ there.
Be careful that the cuts» and. indeed all your work, are
exaflly fquare; and when chil is done, turn in the iide&
and ends of the parchment, fo cut as before, and prefs the
folds with a folding- flick, and you have one pocket, fhaped
as Fig. 3. which put into the firfl partftion.
Purfne the fame method with thefmall pockets, and thofe
for the other partitions ; and in this manner proceed till you
have completed fix leaves, which are to make the iirft of
your book : the larger of thefe pockets are to hold hog'i-
wool, feal's-for, and bear's-hair, and the fmallcr the finer
furs; which are thofe of the martern, fox-cub, ^c.
In each of the fix divifions, iii every leaf, with a fad-^
ler's hollow punch, make a hole ; to which end, take a
thin narrow (lick of beech, or any hardifli wood, and when
the pocket is in its place, put the Hick down iitta the
pocket, and, obferving the center, of the- divifion, give
the punch a fmart blow with a mallet; thefe holes will
ihew what is contained in each of the pockets.
The next leaf may be fingle ; flitch it acrofs with double
iilk diagonally, and crofs thofe flitches with others, and
the fpaces will be of a lozenge-fhape ; let the flitches be-
half an inch in length: into thefe you are to tuck your
dubbing, \fhcn mixed ready for ufe.
The next leaf fhould be double, ditched with a margin as
the others ; and through the firfl fold cut a lozenge, as big.
as the fize will allow of: into this you may tuck three or
four wings of fmall birds, a$ the darling, the land-rail, the
throflle.
Chap. V. ff& Cqaiplete Angler. J17
But firft for the wind, you are to take notice^
that of the winds the fouth wind is faid to be
beft. One obferves, that
When the wind is foutb^
It blows your bait into afijh^s mouth.
Next to that, the weft wind is believed to be
the beft : and having told you that the eaft
wind is the worft, I need not tell you which wind
is
throftle, (ff?. At tie back of this leaf few two little parch,
ment ftraps, of half an inch wide, very ftron^ ; through
which put a fmall, but very neat and (harp pair of fciflars.
You may, on another fingle leaf» make four or five crofs-
bars of long ftitches, through which, as well on the back as
^e foreiide, you may pat large feathers, namely, thofe of
a cock-pheafaat*s tail, a mddy-brown hen, ISc.
The next three leaves Ihould be double ; ftirch them
throi^h the middle, from fide to fide, and with the com.
pafies defcribe a circle of about an inch and half diameter ;
cut out the parchment within the circle ; uoder Tome of the
margins, when the leaves are ftitched together, you may tuck
peacock's and oftrich herle, and in others lay neatly the
§ olden feathers of a pheafant's bread, and the grey and
yed yellow mail of a mallard.
Three double leaves more, with only two large pockets in
each, may be allotted for filk of various colours, gold and*
ilver-twift, and other odd things ; fix fingle leaves more
will complete your book ; flitch them from fide to fide with
diftances of half an inch, and crofs thofe flitches with
others, from top to bottom, with fomewhat greater dif-
tances ; and into every other fpace, reckoning from top to
bottom, lay neatly and fmoothly a flarling's feather ; do the
fame on the back-fide, and io tor two leaves.
The other leaves you may fill with land-raiPs and other
fmall feathers, clover's tops, and red and black hackles.
The firfl and lafl leaves of your book may be double,
i^itched in the middle, from fide to fide, but opcvi at the
I 3 cd^es
ttS Tie Complete Angler. PartL
is the beft in the third degree ; and yet, as Soh-
mon obferVes, that ^^ he that considers the wind
** Ihall never fow :'* (o he that bufies his head
too much about them, if fhe weather be not
made extream cold by an eail wind, (hall be a
little fuperftitious : for as it is obferved by fomd|^
that there is no good horfe of a bad colour •, fo
I have obferved, that if it be a cloudy day, and
not extream cold, let the wind (it in what corner
it will, and do its worft, I heed it not. And yet
take this for a rule, that I would willingly fitfi
ftanding on the lee (bore: and you are to take
notice, that the fi(h lies or fwims nearer the
bottom, and in deeper water in winter than in
fummer \ and alfo nearer the bottom tn a cold
day, and then gets neareft the lee- fide of the
water.
But I promifed to tell you more of the fly-
Bihing for a Trout, which 1 may have time
enough to do, for you fee it rains Mir/ butter :
firft for a Af<sy-fly, you may make hi^ body
with greenilh coloured crewel, or willowifii co-
lour ^ darkning it in mod places with waxed filk^
edges ; which will leave you four pockets like thofe of a-
commoo pocket-book ; into which yoa may put hooks« aad
a fmall piece of wax, wrapped in a bit of glow-leather.
To the page that contains the mixed dubbings^ there
flioald t^ an index, referring to tstry divi£on contained
in it, and exprefliag what fly each niixture is for.
When your book is thus prepared, fend it to the binder
with diredions to bind it as ftrong as poffible ; let him leave
a 'flap to one of the boards, and faften to it a yard of
llbband to tie it.
The ufefttlnefs and manifold conveniencies of a book are
apparent ; and whoever will be at the pains of making fuch
a one as this, will find it vaflly preferable to a magazine-
bag.
Or
Chap. V. 72^^ CoMPLBTl Angler. 119
or ribbed with black hair, or fome of them ribbed
vfith diver thread ; and fuch wings for the colour
as you fee the fly to have at that feafon, nay, at
chat very day on the water. Or you may make
<he oakvfly with an orange tawny and black
ground, and the brown of a mallard's feather for
the wings ^ and you are to know, that thefe
cwo ZK mod excellent flies, that is, the May-
ifiy and the oak-fly. And let me again tell you,
that you keep as far from the water as you can
poflably, whether you fiih with a ily or worm,
and fi(h ^own the ftream ; and when you flfli
with a ily, if it be poflible, let no part of your
line touch t^ water \ but your ily only ; and be
ilill moving your fly upon the water, or cafting
it into the water, you yourfdf being alfo always
jnoving down the ftream. Mr. Barker com-
mends feveral forts of the palmer-flies, not only
thofe ribbed with filver and gold, but others that
li^ve their bodies aU made of black, or fome
with red, and a ted hackle ^ you may alfo make
<he hawthorn-fly, which is att black, and not
1)ig, but very fmall, thefmaller the better ^ or
che oak-fly, the body of which is orange colour
and black crewel, with a brown wing, or a fly
made with a peacock's feather, is excellent in a
bright day t : You muft be fure you want not in
your
* This is inipoirib1e» nolefs you dib with the artiiidal «s
4vith the natural fiy, which is jie%*er pr^^tifed. The me-
thod of throwing or cafting is more particularly treated -of
in the notes on Chap. Y. rart II.
f j^ brother cf the Angle muft always hejpti
WUb thru hlack falmtrt^ and alfo two red^
1.4 And
120 STitf Complete Angler* Parti.
your magazine* bag the peacock's feather, and
grounds of fuch wool and crewel as will make
the grafhopper i and note, that ufually (he fmall-
e(t flies are the bed; and note alfo, that the
light '|ly does ufually make mod fport in a dark
day, and the darkefl: and lead fly in a bright or
clear day ; and laftly note, that you are to repair
upon any occaflon to your magazine- bag, and
upon any occafion vary and make them lighter
or fadder according to your fancy or the day.
And now I fliail tell you, that tlie fifhing
with a natural fly is excellent, and affords much
pleafure; they may be found thus, the May^
fly ufually in and about that month near to the
river fide, efpecially againfl: rain; the oak- fly
on the butt or body of an oak or afli, from the
^J all made <wtih hackles : in a cloudy day^
Or in *windy fweatber, angle you may.
But morning and e^ueningy if the day be bright ^ >
And the chief point of all is to keep out of fight*
In the month of May, none but the ^ZY'Jb
' For every month oney it a pitiful lye.
^he black hanuthornfly mufl be <very fmalU
And the fandy hog^s hair is fur e beft of all :
For' the mallard'*wing Msyfyy and peacock^ s train,
mil look like theflejhfly to kill Trout amain.
^he oak'fly is goody if it ha*ve a broivn nving ;
So is the grajhoppery that in July dothfing:
With a green body make himy on a middle-fiz^d hook ;
But 'whenyou have catch fijhy then play the good cook.
Once more, my good br other y Tllfpeak in thy ear ;
l^f>£*iy ^fd co<w*Sy and bear*S'ivooly to float beft appear %
Andfo doth your fury if rightly it fall :
, But alivays remember , make tivo, and make alL
A fpeciinen of Mr. Barhr*i poetry !
begin.
Chap. V. Ti&tf Complete Ancle]^. i2t
beginning of May to the end of Augufi % it is a
brownifh fi/, and eafy to be fo -found, and
ftands ufually with his head downward, that is to
fay, towards the root of the tree*; the fmall
black-fly, or hawthorn-fly, is to be had on
any hawthorn bufli after the leaves be come
forth : with thefe and a (hort line, as I Ihewed to
angle
* The oak-fly is known alfo by the names of the a(h-fly
and the woodcock-fly ; and in Zbropjhin it ib called the can*
non or downhill-fly. Some dub it with black wool and Ifa'
lilia-coloQred mohairy and bright brownifh bear's hair,,
warped on with yellow fllk» bnt the head of an aih colour ;
others dub it with an orange-tawney and black ground;'
others with blackifli-wool and gold-twift ; the wings o£ the
browa of a mallard's feather. Bonnlker^ in his Jrt of
Jnglingf Page 63, fays, *' The body may be made of a
" bittern's feather/ and the wings of the feather of a
•* woodcock's wing;" and adds, ** This fly, as I have
'* lately been informed by a gentleman of veracity, is bred
** in thofe little balls which grow on the Boughs of large
** oaks, commonly called oak-apples; which heacciden-
** tally difcovered by opening feveral of thefe balls which
** had been gathered in the winter, and brought into the
*' houfe, in each of which was found the cannon-fly ; fome
'* of which, being enlivened by the warmth of the room^
" immediately took flight, and flxed in the window, with the
** head downwards, the politjon they obierve on the trees."
This difdbvery, by which the formation of galls is ac-
counted for, as well as thefubflancesabovementioned, was
made long ago by the fagacious Malphigi ; who had,- with
great diligence, attended to the operations of infedts in the
aA of depofiting their eggs ; and, m his treatife de Gallisy he
defcribes the hollow inSrument, wherewith many flies are
provided, with which they perforate the tegument of leaves,
fruits, or buds, and through the hollow of it injefl their
eggs into the wounds which they have made ; where, in
procefs of time, they hatched and nourifhed : and this
he beheld one of thefe infeds dding in the bud of an oak.
Sec Mal^ighi dt GalHsp Page 47.
And
122 Th Complete Ai^cler, Parti,
angle for a chub, you may dape or dop, and
alfo with a grafhopper behind a tree, or in any
deep hole, ftill making it to move on the top of
the water as if it were alive, and ftill keeping
yourfelf out of fight, you ftall certainly have
^ort if there be Trouts ^ yea, in a hot day, but
efpecially in the evening of a hot day, you will
have fport.
And now, fcholar, my diredion for fly-fi(h-
ing is ended with this ihower, for it has done
raining ; and now look about you, andiee how
pleafantly that meadow lobks i nay, and the
earth fmells as fweetly too. Come, let me tell
you what holy Mr. Herbert f^ys of fuch days and
flowers as thefe, and then we will thank God
that we enjoy them, and walk to the river and
fit down quietly, and try to catch the other brace
of Trouts.
«
Sweet day fo eooU fo cdlm^ fo bright^
The bridal of the earth midjky \
Sweet dcwsjhall weep thy fall to-mghf^
far tbeu muft die.
£weet rofe^ wbofe hue angry and brave^
Bids the rafh gazer wife ins eye^
IThy root is ever in its grave^
and thou muft die.
And Dr. Derhdtm fays, he himfelf ** had once the gooi
*^ fortone to fee an oak- ball ichneumon (Irike its tetebra into .
** an oak apple divers times, no doubt, to lay its tggz
•* thereia." Pby/. Theol Book 8. Chap. 6. Note hh.
There is no comparifon between the nrft of thefe autho*
rities and thofie of the two perfons laft mentioned : but it
is pleaiing to apply the accidental difcoveries of unlearned
men to the confirmation of hypothefes jof which diey ai«
']£noraat.
Swea
Chap. V. The Coui^itrt Angleii. it^
SweeiJpHug^ full of fiveet dofs and tofts ^
A hox where fw Ms compaffed tie ;
My, mujic Jbews you have your clofes^
and all muji die.
Onljf afweet and virtuous foul.
Like feafon*d timber never gives.
But when the whole word turns to coal \
then cbiefy liver.
Venat. I thank you, good mafter, for your
good direftion for fly-filhing, and for the fwect
enjoyment of the pleafant day, which is {p far
fpent without offence to God or man : and I
thank you for the fwctt clofe of your difcourle
with Mr. Herberi^s verfcs, who I have heard
loved angling : and I do the rather believe it^
becaufe he had a fpirit fuitable to anglers, and
to thofe prirhitive Chriftians that you love, atid
have fo much commended*
Fife. Well, my loving fcholar, and I am
pleaied to know that you are fo well pleafed mxh
my difeftion and difcourfe.
And fince yo\ji like thcfe verfes of Mr. Her*
hetf% fo well, let me tell you what a reverend and
learned divine that profefTes to imitate hind, and
has indeed done fo moft excellently, hath writ of
bur Book of Common Prayer, which I know
you will like the better, becaufe he is a friend of
mine, and I am fure no enemy to angling.
* A* Rtange laetaphor this ! and a broken ooe too : it ia
to be hoped it will nerer be qaoced as an inftance of the
Jutlim.
What
JZ4 T'i'^ Complete Angler. Parti.
• • • . » ■ ' • , - ^
What? prcy'rly th'boA? and common fTes^why not?
Thefpirit of grace ^
And fupplicationy
Is not left free alow:
For time andplace^
But manner too : to read orfpeak hy rotCy
Is all alike to bim^ that prays
Ms heart y what with bis moutb be fey ^^
Tbey thai inj>rivate ty tbemfehes alone
Do pray J may take
What liberty they pleafe^ -
In cbufing of the ways
Wherein to make
Their fouPs moft intimate affeSfions known
To him that fees infecrety when
. TF are moft conceaVdfrom other men.
*
Bui hCy that unto others leads the way
In public prayer^
Should do it fo
jis all that hear may know
They need not fear
To tune their hearts unto his tongue^ and fay ^
Amen •, not doubt they were betrayed
To blafphemcy when they meant to baveprafd.
Devotion will add life unto the letter^
And why fhould not
That which authority
Prefcribes^ eJlcem^J be
Advantage got 'y
If tV prayer be good^ the commoner the better^
Prayer
Chap. V. The Complete AKCLtit. 125
Fyayer in the church* s words^ as well
Asfenfe^ of all prayers hears the bell.
Ch. Harvi4^
And now» fcholar^ I think it will be time to
repair to our angle-rodls, which we left in the
water, to fi(h for themfelves, and you (hall chufe
which fliali be your*s ^ and it is an even lay, one
of them catches.
And let me tell you, this kind of fifhing
with a dead rod, and laying night-hooks, are
like fiutting money to ufe, for they both work
for the Owners when they do nothing but fleep»
or eat, or rejoice ; as you know we have done
this laft hour, and fat as quietly and as free from
cares under this fycamore, as FirgiPs Tiiyrus and
his Melibaus did under their broad beech-tree»
No life, my honell fcholar, no life fo happy
and fo pleafant, as the life of a well governed
angkr*,. for when the lawyer is fwallowed up
with bufinefs, and the ftatefipan is preventing^or
contriving plots, then we fit on cowflip-banks^
hear the birds Hng,. and poflefs ourfelves in as
much quietnefs as thefe filent filver ftreams^
which we now fee glide fo quietly by us. In-
deed, my good fcholar, we may fay of angling
as. Dr. Boteter faid of ftrawbcrries ; " Doubtlcls
•' God could have niade a better berry, but
^< doubtlefsGod never did :** and fo, if I might
be judge, " God never did make a more calm,
^^ quiet, innocent recreation, than angling."
ril' tell- you, fcholar, when 1 fat laft on this
prjiTirofe-bank, and looked down thefe meadows,
I thought of them as Charles the emperor did
of the cicj oi Florence : •* That they were too
*« jglca-
125 7i6/CoMPtEtB Argjlbr., Part L
** pleafant to be boked on, but only on holjr-
•' days:** as I then fat on this very grafs, I
turned my prefent thoughts into verfe : 'twas a
wifli which ru repeat to you.
The Angler's WISH,
,« • « * • ■
Tin ibefe^ow'n meads wou*d he:
•* 7'be cbryjtal fireams Jhould folace m,
Ta wkpfe harmtdous buhbUng ifoifij
I with n^ angle would rejoice^
Sit here and fee tbe turtk'dovey , *
Court bis chafie mate to aSls cf love \ *
Or on tbat bank^ feel tbe wefi wind
Br eat be bealtb and plenty^ pkafe my mind^
J'ojee fw,eet dew-drops kifs tbefe flowers^
And tben^ wa/h*d off by April powers : .
• Like Her- Here bear my Ktnnzjing * ajhng -f-,
mit poor. Tberefee a blach bird feed her youngs
Or a lever ock build her neji \
Here give my weary fpirits reft^
And raife my low-pitched thoughts ahv^
Earthy or what poor mortals love :
^hus free from law-fuits^ and tbe noife
Of princes courts^ I wou^d rejoice^
Orr
+ We fee, ly the author's reference to the margin, thiit,
he wilhes tp hear Kenna^ his miftrefi, fing the ion?, •• Likt
** hermit foorJ** This fong was fet to mufick by mr. Nidi*^
Laneartf an eminent ipaflber of Walton*& time ; who, we are
told by W^^i wi(s alfo an excellent painter ; and wbofe por-
trait is yet to be (cen in the Mufick-fchool at Oxford i and
is printed with the notes, in a colleftion intitled, •* SiltH
V muficai ayres and dialogues** Fol. 1653. The fong,^ as^ it
ftands theire^ we have given in the oppojfite |>nge«
It
Aninnt^ S O I*" G
a=E
^
i
£;
a:
^ <r^Maw^23
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6^ /ntit ^MiA
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catm*^ r^MUY^ n^^re tume hu- itn^-^AaH ^v^
^m
6 n#J^ i' J' I.I re t c T'-Ji
^&u/y^9n^iC^iit HfttZ ti& mu i^t/&^ ufu/^ 4Mt '9ntf^aJik0 dtkf-
i
i
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KC
i iJ. J' ,1 uJ i ri ^
;^My>' ,MmIC lirr^er ^a// ^J lei^ j^ ,^eaM^ £»
•4 r cr I e* j i
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i
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U^lll^
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1
0/l£jl!p /uA^fUktnce. Im/ct ml^ Lvzf da^ttei::^
Chap. V, lT)€ Complete Angler. 127
Or 9 with nrf • Bryan^ and a bookj
Loiter Icng days near Shawford* brook f ;
^herejit by bim^ end eat my meat^
^berefee tbefun hotb rife andfet :
Tbere bid good morning to next day^
Tbere meditate my time away :
And angle on^ and beg to bave
A quiet pajfage to a welcome grave.
When I had ended this compofure, I left this
place, and faw a brother of the angle (it under
that honey fuckle- hedge, one that will prove
worth your acquaintance •, I fat down by him,
and prefently we met with an accidental piece
t)f merriment, which I will relate to you, for
k rains (till.
On the other fide of this very hedge fat a gang
€>f gypfies, and near to them fat a gang of
It was aHb fet by Stg. JIfonfo Ferabo/cOf and publifhed in
ft Golle£lioii of his airs, in foL 1 609 \ hot Laneanh being
the better compofition, we have chofe to give it the pre£>
fence, by inferting it here.
There is no doubt bwt that this ibng was a favourite one ^
lor, fome years aAer therelloration, the three firft words of
it were btcone a phrafe. The afe6led writer of the life of
the lord -keeper Gmlfrrd^ Page ci a of that book, fpeaking
of Sir Job CharktOHt then chief jqftice of Chefter^ fays,,
he wanted to fpeak with the king, and went to Whitehall ;
where, retoming from his walk iii St. James^% park, he
nuft pafs ; and there he fat him down, '* like hermit pow.*^
And I alfo find, annoBg the poeas of Mr. Phineas Fletcher^
hereafter mentioned, a metaphrafe of the xliid Pfalm ;
which, we are told, may be lung to the tune of *' Likf
•* hermit foor**
* A friend of the aathor.
f &haiuferd is a place in Biaffwdfifire. ^ Sfelm. FilL
6 beggars :
128 !ri^ Complete Angler; Parti.
beggars : thegypfies were then to divide all the
money that had been got that week, either by
ftealing linnen or poultry, or by fortune telling,
or legerdemain, or indeed, by any other fleights
and fecrets belonging to their myfterious govern-
ment. • And the fum that was got that week,
proved to be but twenty and fomeodd fhillings.
The odd money was agreed to be diRributed
amongft the popr of their own corporation;
and for the remaining twenty fliillings, that was
to be divided unto four gentlemen gypfies, acr
cording to their feveral degrees in their common-
wealth.
* And the firft or chicfeft gypfy, was, by con-
fcnt, to have a third part of the twenty fhillings ;
which all men know is 6 s. 8 d.
The fecond was to have a fourth part of the
20 s. which all men know to be 5 s.
The third was to have a fifth part bf the 20 $•
which all men know to be 4s,
The fourth and laft gypfy, was to have afixth
part of the 20 s. which all men know to be
3s. 4d. .
As for example,
3 times 6 s. 8 d. is —— 20 s.
And fo is 4 times 5 s. ■ 20 s.
And fo is 5 times 4s. 20 s.
And fo is 6 times 3 s. 4d. 20s.
And yet he that divided the money was fo
very. a gypfy» that though he gave to every one
thefe laid fucni, yet he kept one (hilling of it for
himfclf.
*
As
Chap. Vr The Complete Amoler. 129
As for example, s. d.
6 8
5 o
4 o
3 4
make but 19 o
But now you fhall know, that when the four
'gypfies faw that he had got one fhilling by divid-
ing the money, though not one of them knew
any reafon to demand more, yet like lords and
courtiers every gypfy envied him that was the
gainer, and wrangled with him, and every one
laid the remaining (hilling belonged to him : and
fo they fell to fo high a contefl about it, as none
that knows the faithfulnefs of one gypfy to ano-
ther, will eafily believe ; only we that have lived
thefe laft twenty years, are certain that money
has been able to do much mifchief. However,
the gypfies were too wife to go to law, and did
therefore chufe their choice friends Rook and
Sbark^ and our late Engljjh Gufman *, to be their
arbitrators
* There is extant, in the Spamjh langndge, a book which
has been trsmfTated into EngUJh, and mod of the other Euro*
pean langaages, inthled. The Life 0/ Gufman d'Alfarache |
containing an account of many cheats and rogneries which
this fame Gufman is related to have pradlifed* In imica*
tion of this book, Mr. Richard Headt who wrote a play
or two, and is mentioned by Winflanley as a poet, pub-
liihed the EngUJh Rogue, defcrihed in the Life ^Meriton La*
troon, a ^tty extravagant 9 whom he makes to have been
a member of a gang of gypfies ; the hero of this book was
generally called the Englijb Gufman ; and there would be.no
* K doubt
srbitrators and umpires ; and fo they left- this
honeyfuckle hedge, and went to tell fortunes,
and cheat, and get more money and lodging in
the next village.
When thefe were gone we heard as high a
contention anfK)ngft the beggars, whether it was
€afieft to rip a cloak, or to unrip a cloak ? one
beggar affirmed it was all one. But that was de-
nied, by aflcing her, if doing and undoing were
all one ? then another faid, 'twas ealieft to unrip
a cloak, for that was to let it alone. But (he was
anfwered, by aiking her, how fhe unript it, if.
ihe let it alone ? and (he confeft herfelf miftaken.
Thefe and twenty fuch like queftions were pro-
{)ofed, and anfwered with as much beggarly
ogick and earneftnefs, as was ever heard to
proceed from the mouth of the molt pertinacious^
ichifmatick; and fometimes aU the beggars,
whofe number was neither more nw lefs than
the poets nine mufes, talked all together about
this ripping and unripping, and foloud, that not
one heard what the other faid ; but at laft one
beggar craved audience, and told them that old
father Claufe^ whom Ben Johnfon in his Beggar's^
Bujh * created king of their corporation, was that
night to lodge at an alc-houfe, called Catcb-ber-
ly tbe-way^ not far from JVaUbam-crafs^ and in
doubt that Walton alludes to !t, bat that the third edition of
The Complete Jngier^ in which ^hislMfTage firftoccurs, was
pobliihed in 1664; ^rhereas ^he EngUfi Ropte bears dato-
r666 ; if there was any earlier edition, the matter is dear-—
i^(70i and Shark can be duly imagintry aflbciates of the En^
iijh Gufmun*
• The Comedy of The Royftl Mertbant^ or, Aeggar^j^
Aujhi was written by SeMnmMt artd Fktchift and not by
Sen. J^hnfan,
^Chap; V. Thi Cot^pletb Aircttt. 131
the high road towards Lfind^n ; aod he therefore
defired them to fpend no more cimc about that
and fuch like queftions, but refer all to father
Claufe at night, for he was an upright judge,
and in the mean time drew cuts what fong (hould
:be next Tung, and who (hould fing it; they all
agreed to the motion^ and the lot fell to her that
was the youngeft, and verieft virgin of the com*
Eany ; and (he fung Frank Davifon^s fong, which
e made forty years ago, and all the others of
the company joined to fing the burthen with her s
the ditty was this, but firft the burthen.
Bright /bines the fun ^ play ieggars plaj^^
Her e^s /crops enougb to/srve to-doj.
What noi/e 0/ viols is /o /weet^
As when our merry clappers ring ?
tVhat mirth doth want when beggars meet f
A beggar's li/e is /or a king.
Eaty drink and play ^ fieep when we li/i^
Go where we wilU fi /locks be mift. ^
Bright ftnnes tbe/un^ play beggars play%
Her ^s /craps enougb to/erve to-day.
The world is our\ and our^s dlone^
For we alone have world at wiU%
We purcba/e not^ aU is our own^
Both fields and/heets we beggars fill i
Bright /bines tbe/un, play beggars play ^
Her e^s /craps enougb to/erve to-day.
A hundred herds 0/ black and t^bitc
Upon our gowns /ecurely /etd \
And yet i/ any dare us bite^
He dies therefore^ as/ure as creed:
K 2 S^mr
1^2 ^he Complete ANOLERr Parti.
^bus heggdrs lord it as thq pleafe^
And on^ beggars live at eafe :
Bright Jhities tbefun^ plof beggars plaj^
Here* sfcraps emugb toferve to-day.
Ven. I thank you, goo^ mafter, for this piece
of merriment, and this fong, which was welL
humoured by the maker, and well remembered
by you.
Pifc.^ But I pray forget not the catch which
you promifed to make againft night, for our
countryman, honefl: Coridotiy will expeft yoiir
catch and my fong, which I muft be forced to
patch up, for it is fo long fince I learnt it, that
I have forgot a part of it. But come, now it
hath done rainihg, let's ftretch our legs a little in
a gentle walk to the river, and try what intered
our angles will pay us for lending them fo long
CO be uTed by the Trouts \ lent them indeed, like
ufurers, for our profit and their de(lru£lion.
Ven. Oh me, look you mailer, a fifh ! a fifh !
oh, alas, mailer, I have loll her !
Fife. Ay, marry. Sir, that was a good fifli in-
deed : if I had had the luck to have taken up
that rod, then 'tis twenty to one he fliould not
have broke my line by running to the rod's end,
as you fuffered him. I would have held him
within the bent of my rod, unlefs he had been
fellow to the great Trout that is near an ell long,
which was of fuch a length and depth, tfiat he
had his pidure drawn, and now is to be feen zt
mine \iO^Rickabie\ at the George in Ware\ and
it may be, by giving that very great Trout the
rod, that is, by calling it to him into the water,
I. Igh,h.vecau6b. bin, « belong run > for fo
^1
V
t
chap. V. Tbe Complete Angler; 133
I ufe always to do when I meet with an over-
grown fi(h, and you will learn to do fo too
hereafter ; for I tell you, fcholar, fi(hing is an
art, or at leaft, it is an art to catch fifli.
Fen. But mafter, I have heard that the great
Trout you fpeak of is a Salmon.
Pifv. Truft me, fcholar, I know not what to
fay to it. There are many country people that
believe hares change fexes every year: and
there be very many learned men think fo too, for
in their diiTeding them, they find many reafons
to incline them to that belief. And to make the
wonder feem yetlefs, that hares changefexes, note
that Dr. Mer. Cafaubon affirms in his book of
credible and incredible things^ that Gafper Peu-
cerusj a learned phyfician *, tells us of a people
that once a year turn wolves, pardy in (hape, and
partly in conditions. And fo, whether this was
a Salmon when he came into frefli water, and his
not returning into the fea hath altered him to
another colour or kind, I am not able to fay ; but
I am certain he hath all the figns of being a
Trout both for his ihape, colour, and fpots, and
yet many think he is not.
Ven. But mafter, will this Trout which I had
hold of die ? for it is like he hath the hook in
his belly.
Pifc. I will tell you, fcholar, that unlefs the"
hook be faft in his very gorge, *tis more than
probable he will live, and a little time with the
help of the water, will ru(t the hook, and it
will in time wear away j as the gravel doth
* And mathematician, born tt Lu/iaia, 15259 he mar-
ried the daughter oi MelanShon ; wrote many booki on va-
rious fubjefts^ and died 1602, ag«d 7S.
K 3 in
13^ STi&tf Complete Anpler. Parti.
* yenat. But, matter, do not Trouts fee us in
the night?
Pifc, Yes, and hear, and fn>ell too, both
t^tn and in the day time ; for Gefner obferves,
the Otter fmclls a fi(h forty furlongs off him in
the Water : and that it may be true, fecms to be
affirmed by iSir Francis Bacon^ in the eighth
century of his natural hiftory, who there proves
that waters may be the medium of founds, by
demonftrating it thus j " That if you knock two
*' ftones together very deep under the water,
^ thofe that ftand on a bank near to that place,
*' may hear the noife without any diminution of
*^ it by the water/* He alfo oifersthe like expe-
riment concerning the letting an anchor fall by
a very long cabfe or tope on a rock, or the fand
within the fea : and this being fo well obferved
and demonftrated, as it is by that learned man,
has made me to believe that Eels unbed them^
felves, and (lir at the noife of thunder, and not
only as fomc think, by the motion or ftirring
of the earth which is occafioned by that thunder.
And this reafon of Sir Francis Bacon^ Exper.
792* has made me crave pardon of one that I
laughed at for affirming, that he knew Carps
came to a certain place in a pond, to be fed at
the ringing of a bell or the beating of a drum :
and however, it (hall be a rule for me to make
as little noife as I can when I am fifhing, until
Sir Francis Bacon be confuted, which I Ihall give
any man leave to do *•
«
" * That l!{h hear, is confirmed by the authority of late
writers; Sivammerdam aflcrts it, and adds^ that " they*
^' have a wonderful labyrinth of the ear for that purpofe.'^
ISee S<iyammerdam oi \nk&9^ Edit. London^ ^75^' P^S* ^^
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N _
trdm^to Adt •!
Chap. V. ^be Complete Angler; -137
And, leaft you may think him fingular in this
opinion, I will tell you, this fcems to be believ-
ed by our learned Dodor Hakewill^ who in
his Jipology ef God^s fovotr and providence *,
ft 360, quotes Plinf to report, that one of the
emperors had particular fi{h-ponds, and in them
fevcral fi(h, that appeared and came when they
. were called by their particular names -f- : and
St. James tells us, chap. iii. 7. that all things
in the fea have been tamed by mankind. And
PUfTf tells us, Lib. be. 35. thzt Antonia^ the wife
of Drufus^ had a Lamprey, at whofe gills (he hung
jewels or ear-rings : and that others have been
fo tender-hearted, as to (hed tears at the death
of 6fhes, which they have kept and loved.
And thefe obfervations, which will to moft
hearers fcem wonderful, feem to have a further
confirmation from Marital X^ Lib. iv. Epigr. 30,
who writes thus :
' - Pifcatorfuge ne nocens^ &c.
Angler,
* Tfats book, which was publiihed in /olio, 16359 and is
I full of excellent learning and good fenfe, contains an exa-
mination and cenfare of that common error which philo-
fophers ^ave fallen into, '* That there is in nature a perpe-
*« tual and aniverfal decay;" the contrary whereof, after an
extenfive view of the hiftory of thephyfical and moral world,
. and a judicious and impartial comparifon of former ages with
, that wherein the.^uthbr lived, is, with great force of argu<^
\ ment, demonftrated. The reader may, in this book, meet
with a relation of that inftance^f Lord Cromivell's gratitude
' to Sig. Fre/co6aldi, a Florentine merchant, which is con*
tained in the hiftory of Thomas Lord Crom^welU publilh'd as
Shahefptar^'^ by feme of the earlier editors of his works.
t Monf. Berniert in his hiftory of Ijuloftan, rpports the
like of the Great Mogul*
% The epigram, at length, is as folbws ;
Pifcator, fuge^ ne nocens recedas^
• ' Sdfrit pifcibus ha natantur unda*
^38. Th Coitfri.B7s Aktclsr.
Angler, woMJi tbtm hegmbkfs I thenforUwry
iFcr thefe are facred Jijhes that fwim hen 5
Who knaw their fovemgn^ and will lick his bandj
Than which ^ nonets greater in the world's a^mmand t
Nay more^ * have names ^ and when fhey called are^
D$ to their fever al owners call repair.
AH the further ufe that I {hall make of this Ihall
be, to advife anglers to be patient, and forbear
fwearing, left; they be beard and catch no fi(b^
And fo I ihall proceed next to tell you, it is
certain, that certain fields near Leominfter^ a town
in Hereford/hire^ are obferved to make the flwep
that graze upon them more fat than the next^
and alfo to bear finer wool ; that is to fay, that
that year in which they feed in fuch a particula^
pafture, they (hall yield finer wool than they did
that year before they came to feed in it, and
coarfer again if they fiiall return to their former
pafture ; and again return to a finer wool, being
fed in the fine wool ground. Which I tell you,
that you may the better believe that I am cer-
tain, if I catch a Trout in one meadow he (hall
be white and faint, and very like to be lowfy ^
and as certainly, if I catch a Trout in the next
0ieadow, he fhall be ftrong, and red, and lufty,
and much better meat : truft me, fcholar, I have^
caught many a Trout in a particular meadow,
that the very fhape and the enamell'd colour 01
j^i noruftt dominum, mttnuntque tamiunt,
iTlam qua nihil eft in orBe majus
^uidf quod nomeni babent I (^ ad magiftri
VQcem quifquifui 'venit citatusF
hm
Chdp* V. ^be CoMPLBT£ Angler. i^^
him hath been fuch, as hath joyed me to look
on him : and I have then with much pleafure
concluded with Solomon^ ^^ Every thing is beau*
** tiful in his feafon.**
I fliould by promife (peak next of the Salmon,
but I will by your favour fay a little of the Um-
ber or Grayling ; which is fo like a Trout for
his fhape and reeding, that I defire I may exer*
cife your patience with a (hort difcourfe of him,
and then the next (hall be of the Salmon *«
CHAP.
^ Tbe Trout delights in fmall parling rivers and brooks*
with gravelly bottoini and afwift ilream ; his haunts are an
eddy, behind aftone, a log» or a bank that projeAs forward
into the river» and againn which the ftream drives ; a ihal*
low between two ftreams, or, towards the latter end of th«
fammer, a mill-tail. His hold is nfoally in the deep, under
the hollow of a bank, or the root of a tree.
TheTront fpawns about the beginning of Novmier, and
does not recover till the begining of March,
WaUoH has been fo particuar on the fahje^t of Trout- fiA«
ing, that he has left very little room to fay any thing by waf
of annotadon with refpeft to baits, or the method of taking
this fifli ; yet there are fome dire^ons and obfervations per*
tinent to this chapter, which it would not be confiftent witk
the intended copioufnefs and accuracy of this work to omit*
When you nih for large Trout or Salmon, a winch of
the ihape of Fi^. 4. Plate IX. will be very ufefnl : upon
the rod with which you ufe the winch, whip a number of
fmall rings of about an eighth of an inch diameter, and at
firft about two feet diftant from each other; but afterwards
diminifiiing gradually in their diftances, till you come to the
end : the winch mull be fere wed on to the butt of your rod»
and round the barrel let there be wound right or ten yards
of wove hair or filk line : when yon have ftruck a fi(h
that may endanger your ttckle, let the line ran, and wind
him op as he tires.
YoQ will find great convenience in a fpike madeof a piece
of the greater end of a fword-bladey fcrewed inlo the Utber
end
»4o 7*i&f GoMPtETE Angler. Parti.
C H A P. VI.
Obfervations oft&eXJMBER ^rGRAYLiNG,
and DireSlions how tojijhfor him.
Pis CAT OR.
T:!^ H 5- Umber and .Grayling are thought
by feme to differ as the Herring and
Pilchard do. But though they may do
fo in other nations, I think thofe in England
differ nothing but in their names. Aldrovandus
fays, they be of a Trout kind : and Gefner fays,
that in his country, which is Swiizerland^ he is
accounted the choiceft of all fifli. And in Italy ^
he is in the month of May fo highly valued,
that he is then fold at a much higher rate
than any other fifh. The French^ which call
the Chub Un Villain^ call the Umber of the
lake LemaUy Un Umble Chevalier -, and they
end of the butt of your rod : when you have ftruck a fi(h
retire backwards from the river, and, by means of the
fpike, ftick the rod perpendicular in the ground, you may
then Jay hold on the lin)?, and draw the iifh to you, as yoa
fee proper,
\Vhen you angle for a Trout,^ whether with a fly or at
ihe ground, you need make but three or four trials in a
place ; which, if unfuccefsful, you may conclude there ar^
5one there.
IFaltotty in fpeaking of the feveral rivers where Trout are
found, has made no mention of the Kennet ; which, un-
doubtedly, produces a? good and as many Trouts as any
river in E^igland. In the reign of king Charles the fecond,
a Trout was taken in that river, near Nen.vhuryy with a
cafting net, which meafwred foj:ty>(ivd^incbei in length.
value
\
Chap. VI. T'i&tf Complete Angler. 141
value the Umber or Grayling fo highly, that
they fay he feeds on gold, and (ay that manr
have been caught out of their famous rive ofr
Loirej out of whofc bellies grains of gold have
been often taken. And fome think that he feeds
onwater-thymd/aftdfmellsor'ftaifhisfirft taking
out of the water ; and they.xnay think fo with as
good reafqo 9s we do, that-oUtfmclts fmell like
violets at ^thcir being firft caught, which I think
is a truth. Aldroviandus fays, the Salmon, the
GrayUng,,.and-Tif6ut, and all- fifti that live in
clear and (nafp ftrtamsj are made by their mo-
.ther Nature of fuch exaftfhape and pleafant co-
lours, purpofely to invite us to a joy and content-
cdnefs in feafting with her. Whether this is a
truth or not, is not my purpofe to difpute ; but
'tis certain, all that write of> the Umber declare
him to be very medicinal. And Gefner fays,
that the'fat of an Umber or Grayling being fet
with a little honey, a day or two in the fun in a
little glafs, is very excellent againft rednefs, or
fwarthinefs, or any thing that breeds in the ey^^.
Sahian * takes him to be called Umber from his
fwift fwimming or gliding out of fight, more
like a (hadow or a ghoft than a fi(h. Much more
might be faid both of his fmell and tafte, but I
fhall only tell you, that St. Ambrofe^ the gloriom
biihop of Milan^ who lived when the church
kept fafting-days, calls him the flower- filli, or
flower of fifties ; and that he was fo far in love
with him, that he would not let him pafs with-
' • HippoliU Salvianif an Italian phyfician of the fixtecnth
century ; he wrote a treatife De Pijcibui^ cum eorumfguris ;
and died at Rome 1572, aged 59.
put
X42 9^ Complete Angler. Part f .
out the honour of a long difcourfe ; but I mu&f
and pals on to tell you how to take this dainty
fiOu
Firft, note. That he grows not to the bignefs
of a Trout; for the biggeft of them do not
ufually exceed eighteen inches : he lives in fuch
rivers as the Trout does, and is ufually taken
with the fame baits as the Trout is, and after the
lame manner, for he will bice both at the min-
now, or worm, or fly, though he bites not often
at the minnow, and is very gamefome at the fly,
and much Ampler, and therefore bolder than a
Trout i for he will rife twenty times at a fly, if
you mifs him, and yet rife again. He has been
taken with a fly made of the red feathers of a
parakita, a Arrange outlandifh bird, and he will
rife at a fly not unlike a gnat or a fmall moth,
or indeed-, at mofl: flies that are not too bi^.
He is a fijh that lurks clofc all winter, but is
very
Cbap#VI. ne Complete Akglsr. 143
very pleafant and jolly after mid-j^l^ and in
A£^, and in the hot months : he is of a veiy
fine (hape, his fle(h is white, his teeth, thole
little ones that he has, are in his throat, yet he
has fo tender a mouth, that he is oftner loft
liter an angler has' hooked him, than any other
filh»^ Though there be many of thefe fifhes in
the delicate river Dwe and in Trenty and fome
other ftiMitler rivers, as that which runs by SaHf'
hryj yet he is not fo general a filh as the Trout,
nor to me fo good to eat or fo angle for. And
fo I Ihall take my leave of him, and now come
to fome obfervations of the Salmon, and how to
catch him *•
CHAP.
* The haants of the Grayling are fo nearly the fame with
thofe of the Trout, that in fi£ing for either you may, in
many rivers, catch both.
They fpawn about the beginning of jffriJ, when they
lie moftly in iharp ftream».
Baits tor the Grayling are.chieily the fame as thofe for the
Trout, except the minnow, which he will not take fo freely*
He will alfo take gentles very eagerly. When you £fh for
him with a fly, yon can hardly ufe one too fmall.
The Grayling is much more apt to rife than defcend ;
therefore, when you angle for him alone, and not for the
Trout, rather ufe a float, with the bait from ixx to nine
inches from the bottom, than the running- liDe,
The Grayling is found in great plenty in many rivers In
the north, particularly the Humber ; and in the Wyet which
runs thro^h Monmguthjhire and Herrfordjhire into the Si*
<vern^ I have taken, with an artificial fly, very large ones ; at
alfo great numbers of a fmall, but excellent fiih, of the Trout
kind, called a Laft-fpring ; of whicH fomewhat will befaid
ip a fubfec[ttent note. They are not eafily to be got at with-
outii boat, or wading; for which reafon, thofe of that coun-
try ufe a thing they call a thorrocle, or truckle; in fome
places it is called a coble, from the Latin corbult^, a little
balket :
J44 ^' CoMPLEtB ANdtER. Parti.
C H A P. VII.
Obfervations of the Salmon, mtbDireSihns
bow tofijhfor him,
PiSCATOR.
THE Salmon is accounted the king of
freih-water-fifh, and is ever bred in rivers
relating to the fea^ yet fo high or far
from it as admits of no tinfture of fait, or
brackifhncfs ; he is faid to breed or caft his
fpawn in moft rivers, in the month of Augufi :
fome fay that then they dig a hole or grave in
a fafe place in the gravel, and there place their
eggs or fpawn, after the melter has done his
natural office, and then hidq it moft cunningly,
and cover it over with gravel and ftones ; and
then leave it to their Creator's prote6lion, who
baiket : it is a baiket fhaped like the half of a walnut-fhelt,
bat fhallower in proportion, and covered on the outfide
with a horfe's hide : it has a bench in the middle, and will
jufl hold one perfon, and is fo light that the countrymen
will hang it on their heads like a hood, and fo travel with
a fmall paddle, which ferves for a ftick, till they come to
a river ; and then they launch it, and Jdep in : there is
great difficulty in getting into one of thofe truckles, for
the inflant you touch it with your foot it flies from you ;
and' when you are in, the leaft inclination of the body over-
iets it. It is very diverting to fee how upright a man is
forced to fit in thefe veflels, and to mark with what date
and folemnity he draws up the flone which ferves for an
anchor, when he would remove, and lets it dawn again :
however, it is a fort of navigation that I Wf jnd wiSi Ottr '
pifcatory difciple never to attempt.
by
.Chap* VII. Tit^ CoMPLETB Angler. 145
by a gentle heat, which he infufes into that cold
eleixient, makes it brood and beget life in the
fpawn, and to become Samlets early in the fpring
next following.
The Salmons having fpent their appointed
lime, and done this natural duty in the freih
waters, they then hafte to the fea before winter,
both the melter and fpawner : but, if they be
ftopc by flood-gates or wears, or loft in the
frelh. waters, then thofe fo left behind, by de-
;fees grow lick and lean, and unfeafonable and
ipperi that is to fay, have bony griftlcs grovr
out of their lower chaps^ not unlike a hawk's
beak, which hinders their feeding, and in time
fuch fi(h fo left behind pine away and die. 'Tis
obferved, that he may live shus one year from
the fea ; but he then grows infipid and taljtrlefs,
iu)d lofes both his blood and ftrength, and pines
md dies the fecond year. And 'tis noted, that
thofe little Salmons called Skewers, which
abound in many rivers relating to the fea, arc
bred by fuch fick Salmons that might not go
to the fea, and that though they abound, yet
they never thrive to any confiderable bignefs.
But if the old Salmon gets to the fea, then
that griftle which (hews him to be kipper, wears
away, or is call off, as the eagle is faid to ca(t
his bill, and he recovers his^ ftrength, and corner
next fummer to the fame river, if it be poflible,
to enjoy the former pleafures that there poffcft
him * ^ for, as one has wittily obferved, he has
like
* The migration of the Salmon, and divers other forts of
fiflies, is analogous to that of birds ; and Mr. Ray confirms
FP^ahon*s ailertion by faying, that ** Salmon will yearly af-
L <' cend
146 ^be Complete Angler. Fart I.
like fome perfons of honour and riches, which
have both their winter and fummer-houies, the
frelh rivers for fummer, and the fait water for
winter, to fpend his life in ; which is not, as Sir
Francis Bacon hath obferved in his Hifttny of Life
and Deatby above ten years : and ic is to be oh*
ferved, that though the Salmon does grow big
in the lea, yet he grows not fat but in frefti rivers ^
and it is obferved, that the farther they get from?
the fea, they be both the fatter and better.
Next I (hall tell you, that though they make
very hard fliift to get out of the frefli rivers into
the fea, yet they will make harder (hift to get
out of the fait into the freih rivers, to fpawn, or
polTefs the pleafures that they have formerly found
in them : to which end, they will force them-
felves through flood-gates, or over wears, ot
hedges, or ftops in the water, even to a height
beyond common belief. Gefner fpeaks of fuch
places, as areknown to be above eight feet high
above water. And our Camden mentions in his
Britannia the like wonder to be in Pemhokefiire^
where the river ^ivy falls into the fea j and that
the fall is fo downright, and fo high, that the
people (land and wonder at the ftrength and
(light by which they fee the Salmon ufe to get
*' cend up a river four or fivehundred miles, only to caft theit
** fpawn, and fecur^ it in banks of fand till the voung be
*l hatched and excluded, and then return to fea again." Wif*
tiom of God manifefted in the tuorks of tht crtatioti, 130,
It may not be improper iiere to take notice, that in this,
and feveral other parts of the book, the fa£ts related by the
author, do mod remarkably coincide with later diicoveriea
of the moil diligent and fagacious- natural ids ; acircumdaace
that mud ddd great weight to all his adertions.
I put
Chap. VII. The Complbtb* Anolsr. ^47
out oi the fea into the faid river ; and the manner
and height of the place is fo notable, that ir is
known far by the name of the Salmon- leap -^
concerning which, take this alfo out of Michael
Drayton *, my honcft old friend,* as he tells ic
you in his FofyoHion f*.
^nd when the Salmon feeh a frefier Jlream to find ^
Which hither from the fea comes yearly by his kindi
As he towards feafon grows j andftems the watry tra£f
ff^bere Tivy falling dawn, makes an high cataraiff
Forced by the rijing rocks that theh her courfe oppafe^
As tho* within her bounds they meant her to inclofe %
Here^ when the labouring fifh does at the foot arrive^
And finds that by his ftrength ie does but vainly
ftrive ;
His tail takes in his mouthy and bending Uke a how
^bafs to full ccmpafs drawn^ alofj himfelf dotif
* Ad excellent poet, born in TTarwUiJbh^, 1563. A-»
mong his works, which are very nnmeroas/is the PoM^
lion, a chorographical defcription of the rivers, mpnntainF,
foreds, caftles, (^c» is this ifland. Though this poenft has
great merit* it is rendered moch more valuable by the learn*
•d notes of Mr. ^fA/ps. TJie ^alitor died in 1631, and
lies iburied among the poets fn Wefiminfter abbey,
t Dr. Warhurton, in the preface to his Shakefpeare, fpeak-
ifig of this poem, fays it was written by dne Drayton ; a mode
of.expreffion very common with great men, when they mean
Xi> confign the memory of others over to oblivion and con-
tempt. Bifhop Burnet fpeaking of the negotiations previous
fo fbS peace of Utrecht, fays in like manner, that ** one
** Prior was employed to fini(h the treaty.'* But both thefe
gentlemen, in this their witty application of an innocent nK>-»
Dofyliabl^, were but imitators of the S<uv^/^ambafrador,who
complained to ffl^itkci, that a treaty had been fent to be*
translated by one Mr. Milton, a blind man* JVhit, Memr^633..
• . - L 2 ^ben
148 5*i6^ Complete Angler. Parti,
Then Jpringing at his height y as dath a little wandy
That bended end to endy and fiarted from marfs hani^
Far off itfelj doth caji ; Jh does the Salmon vauU^
Jindtf atfirft hefaiU his fecond fummerfauU *
He injlantly effaysy and from his nimble ring^
Still yerkingy never leaves until himfelf he fling
4kovejhe oppojing ftream.
This Mxhael Drayton fells you of this kap or
fuimncrfault of the Salmon.
' And next I (hall tell you^ that it is obferved
by Gefner and others, that there is no better
Salmon than in Et^land : and that though fome
of our northern counties have a^ fat and as large
as the river Thames^ yet none are of lb excellent
a fade.
And as I have told you that Sir Francis Bacon
obferveSy the age of a Salmon exceeds not tea
years, fo let me next tell you, that his growth is
very fudden : it is faid, that after he is got intp
the fea, hQp4)ecomes from a Samlet not fo big
as a Gudgeon, to be a Salmon, in as (hort a time
as a gofling becomes to be a goofe. Much of
this has beea obferved by tying a ribband or
fome known tape or thread, in the t^il of fom^
young Salmons, which have been taken in wears^
as they have fwimmed towards the fait water»
and then by taking a part of them agsun with
the known mark at the fame place at their return
from the fea, which is ufually about fix months
* Sammer&alt, or fummerfet* frCMn /onhri/auh<, Fr. A
high leap, in which the heels are thrown over the head.
John/, Did. To throw ^ Aimmerfet, is a phiafe cofiimoR
with tumblers.
after ^
Chap, VlhTie Coiviplete Ancl^er. 149
after; and the like experiment hath been tried
\]pon young fwallows, who have, after fix months
abfeace, been oUerved to /^turn to the fame
chimney, there to make their nefts and habita*
tions fot the fummer following : which has in-
x:lined many to think, that every Salmon ufually
returns to the fame river to which ic was bred»
as young pigeons taken out of the fame dove*
cote have alfo been obferved to do.
And you are yet to obferve further, that the
he-Salmon is ufually bigger than the fpawner,
and that he is more kipper, and lefs able to en-
dure a winter in the frem water than (he is, yet
ibe is at that time of looking lefs kipper and
better, as watry, and as bad meat.
And yet you are to obferve, that as there is
no general role without an exception, fo there
are fome few rivers in this nation, that have .
Trouts and Salmons in feafon in winter, as 'tis
certain there be in the river PFye in Monmoutb--
Jbirty where they be in (eafon, as Camden obfervesy
fr^om September tiH JpriL But, my fcholar, the
obfervation of this and many other things, I
mufl: in manners omit, becaufe they will prove
too large for our narrow compafs of tjme, and .
therefore I Ihaltnext fall upon my dire£tions how
to fi(h for this
L 3 Sal-
t50 The CoMPLBTB Angler. FartT.
Salm on
. And for that^ firft you ftall obfervr, that
ufually he ftays not long in a place as Trouts
vi\\\, but, as I faid, covets ftill to go nearer the
fpring-hcad ■, and that he does not as the Trout,
and many other fiftj, lie near the water-fide, or
bank or roots of trees, but fwims in the deep
and broad parts of the water, and ufually in the
middle, and near the ground j and that there
you are to fifh for him, and that it ts to be
caught as the Trout is, with a worm, a minnow,
which fome call a penk, or with a fly.
And you are to obfcrve, that he is very feldom
obferved to bite at a minnow, yet fometimes he
will, and not ufually at a fly, but more ufually
at a worm, and then moft ufually at a lob or
garden-worm, which Ihould bewell fcoured, that
is to fay, kept feven or eight days in mofs before
you filh with them : and if you double your
time of eight into fixteen, twenty, or more days.
Ghap. VII. Thi Complete Angler. 15^
t is ftUl the better, for the worms will ftill be
clearer, tougher, and more lively, and continue
fo longer upon y5>ui; b^9^»r V^^^^V ^^Y ^ ^^p^
longer by keeping them cool and in frelh mofs,
and fome advife to put camphire into it.
Note air^.4ha€ many u£b to fiflnjbr a Salmon
withu^a'^fing of wire on the top of their rod,
thrco^fi which the line may run to as great a
lei^£.a^ ;ieedful when kc is hooked. And
to JLhat end, fome uie a wheel about the middle
of their rod, or near their hand, which is to be
obferved better by feeing one of them, than by
a large dcmonftration of words.
And now I (hall tell you, that which may be
called a fecret : I have been a fifhing with old
OUvar Henliy^ now with God, a noted filhef
both for Trout and Salmon, and have obferved^
that he would ufually take three or four worms
out of his bag, and put them into a little box in
his pocket, where he would ufually let them
continue half an hour or more, before he would
bait his hook with them ; I have afked him his
reafbn, and he has rcfdicd,. *' He did but pick
*' the beft out to be in readinefs again ft he baited
** his hook the next time :" But he has been ob-
ferved both by others and myfelf, to catch more
fifli than I or any other body jthat has ever gone
a fifhing with hiai coi;ld do, and efpecially Sal-
mons s and I have been told lately by one of his
mod: intimate andfecret friends, that the box in
which he put thofe worms, was anointed with a
drop, or two or three, of the oil of ivy-berries,
made by expreffion or infufion j and told that by
the worms remaining in that box. an hour, or
a like time^ they had incorporated a kind of fmeli
L 4 that
15^ ^te Complete Angler. Partt.
that was irrefiftibly attraftivc, enough to force
iny fifli within the fmell of them, to bite. This
I heard not long fince from a friend, but have
not tried it ; yet I grant it probable, and refer
^y reader to Sir Frandc Bacon's natural hiftory,
where he proves fifhes may hear, and doubtlefs can
more probably fmell : and 1 am certain G^^r
fays, the Otter can fmell in the water, and I
know not but that fi(h may do fo too : 'tis left
for a lover of angling, or any that defires to
improve that art, to try this condufion.
I Ihall-alfo impart two other experiments, but
not tried by myfclf, which 1 will deliver in the
lame words that they were given me by an excel-
lent angler and a very friend, in writing; he
cold me the latter was too good to be told, but in a
learned language, left it fliould be made common.
Take the {linking oil, drawn out of poly-
pqdy of the oak by a retort, mixt with tur*
pentine and hive-honey, and anoint your bait
*• therewith, and it will doubtlefs draw the fifli
*^ to it."
The other is this : VuJnera bedera grandifftnue^
inflilla fudant Balfamum oleo gelato^ albicantique
ferjimik't odoris vero longe fuavijfimt.
*Tis fupremely fweet to any filh, and yet aflTa-
ibetida may do the like *.
But
• There is extant, though I have never been able to get
« fight of it, a book in titled. The Secrets of Jngling^ i^ J. D«
^t the end of which is the following myftical recipe of ^. R,
who poifibly may be the R, Roe mentioned in the preface.
To blifs thy balt^ and male the fijh to hite^
4^6 1 here*f a ineaos, if thou tanfi hit it right ; ,
Tah
4i
Chap. VII. 7**^ Complete Angler. 153
But in thcfc things I have no great faith, yet
grant it probable, and have had from fome chy-
mical men, namely, from Sir Ge&rgc Hajlings and
others, an affirmation of them to be very advan*
tageous : but no more of thefe, efpecially not
in this place.
• \ might here, before I take my leave of the
Salmon, tell you, that there is more than one
fort of them, as namely, a Tecon, and another
called in fome places a Samlet, or by fome «
Skegger : but thefe and others which I forbear
to name, may be fifh of another kind, and diffin^^
as we know a herring and a pilchard do \ which
I think are as diflferent, as the rivers in which
chey breed, and muft by me be left to the di(qui«
fitions
^aki gum of lifit nvill htaf and laid tofiak
In eiifWilJ drA<wH from that f ivbich Jk/Uf ibt hA» f ' I«|r
Fifif ivhere thou luiltf thoujhalt hwtfpwt thy Jill ^
JVbm Qthenfailf thoujhalt be fur t to iill*
The ingenious author of The Angler^ f Jure Guide, pohliflicd
ip BvOy 1 706, in the preface, and elfewhere, afcribes thir
book to ** that great pradlitioner, mafter, and patron of
'* angling. Dr. Douae.'^l could wi(h» for the honour of
angling, that the appellations were jnft ; but I confefs I
doubt as much whether he was an angler, as I do his being
the author of the above book ; neither of which circum*
ilances would, I thinki have been omitted by Walton, had
the fadls been true*
* There is a fifh, in many rivers, of the Salmon kind,
which, though very fmall, is thought by fome curious per*
fons to be of the famefpecies ; and this, I take it, is the £(h
known by the different names of Salmon<Pink, Shedders,
Skeggers, Lad- Springs,' and Gravel Lafl-Sp rings. But there
is another fmall iifh, very much fefembling thefe in ihape and
colour, called the Gravel Lafl-Spring, found only in the ri-
f€n/fye and Severn; which is, undoubtedly, a diftind fpe-
+vf^ / A i^>-^ ftA-i^^r^J^ ^/2^*^^^ cic« ;
154 ^^ CoMPirETE Angler; PartL
(icions of men of mor^ leifure, and of greater
abHities, than I profefs myfelf to have.
And laftly, I am to borrow fo much of your
promifed patience, as to tell you that the Trout
or Salmon being iq feafon, have at their firfi:
taking out of the water, which continues during
lifc,^ their bodies adorned, the one with fuch red
cies : Thefe fpawn about the beginning ofSefumhr, and
in the ^^^I nave taken them with an ant-fly as fa^ as I
could throw^. Perhaps this is what fPa/ton calls the Tecon. A
very experienced angler, and a writer on tiie fubjeft of fly-
fifliing» whom we have often ouote^ leaking of this EQi^
bas the following paiTage ; ** I had the curiofinr of opening
** fome of them, and found them to be full of male-fpawn
*' near ihedding, but never could perceive any female-
** ipawn : I therefore am certain this mnft be a fpecies of
itfelf, as having fpawn, but cannot account for this fiih
having no femaie-fpawn which may be difcerned. Many
have been of opinion that they are the fp^wn of the fick
Salmon, which cannot get out of th6 frelh rivers to fea,
and being the offspring of a weak feed or generation; is
the reafon of their diminutive iize, and incapacity of
•( breeding again : but I take this to be an error ; because
« the Salmon ever fpawn when in perfedl health only, before
their time of going to fea, and fpawn no more til! their
return to fea, thereby to be purged and cleanfed by the
fait water, they pine away, and die in their imprifba->
** ment, either by exceffive cold in frefh water, or for want
*« of purgation, or both : now the purging of the fait water
** may as well be a reafon why Salmon grow fo faft, as the
^* want thereof the caufe why they pine away and die fo
♦• foon, when confined to freih rivers; for Salmon being a
** fiih of prey; ^nd great feeders, nature directs them to
«' fait water, as phyfick, to purge and cleanfe them, not
** only from their impurities after fpawning, but from all
" theiismuddy and grofs humours acquired by their exceffive
*< feeding all the fummer in freih rivers, and hardens their
*• fat and flefh ; which makes them not only grow the fafter,
but alfo become the more wholfome food, favoury nnd
grateful to mankind.'' Bowlktrh Art of Angling. 7.
Ipots,
«C
€$
ti
Chap. VIII. TJbe Complete Angler. T55
fpots^ and the other with fuch bkck or blacki(h
fpots, as give theni fuch an addition of natural^
beauty, as I think, was never given to any
Mroman by the arttfidal paint or patches in which
they Jb much pride themfelves in this age. And
fo I (hall leave them both *, and proceed to fome
obfesvationfr on the Pike*
♦—AiW**^*-"^***'""**""*****^*"
CHAP. VIII.
OJ^rvatioMs of t&e Luce ^rPiKE, wit&
DinSfions bow tojijhfor bim.
Pi S C ATOR.
r
TIJE mighty Luce or Pike is taken^
to be the tyrant, as the Salmon is tha%
king of the frefli waters. 'Tis not to be
doubted, but that they are bred, fome by gene-
ration, and fome not ; as namely, of a weed
called pickerel-weed, unlefs the leai^ned Gefner
be much miftaken : for he fays^ this weed and
other glutinous matter, with the help of the fun's
heat
• The Sdmon delights in large rapid rivers^ efpeciall/
fuch as have pebbly, gravelly, and fometimes weedy bottoms.
Their afaal time of fpawning is about the beginning of
September ; but it is faid that tbofe in the Sen/ern fpawu is
Maj.
' Baits for Salmon are,- lob worms for the ground, fmaller
worms and bobs, cad-bait^ and indeed moft of the baits
taken by the Trout, at the top of the water: and as to flies,
remember to make iheih of the noft gaudy colours, and very
larger
i'5$ ^^ Complete Angler, Parti,
heat in feme particular months^ and fotne pond^
adapted for it by nature^ do become Pikes« But
doubtlefs divers Pikes are bred after this manner^
or are brought into fome ponds fome fuch other
ways as is paft man's finding out, of which we
l>ave daily teftimonies.
Sir Francis Bacon in his hiftory of iife and
death, obferves the Pike to be £hc longeft lived
of any frefh water fiih» and yet he computes it
to be not ufually above forty years, and others
chink it to be not above ten years, and yet Gef-
ner mentions a Pike taken in Swideland in th6
ytar X449, with a ring about his neck, declaring*
Jbe was put into that pond by Frederick the fecond,
niore than two hundred years before he was laft
taken, as by the infcription in that ring, beii
Greeks was interpreted by the then bifliop
Worms. Eut of this no more, but that it is ob^^
mrwtdy that the old or very great Pikes have in
ibem more of date than goodnefs, the fmaller
or middle-fized Pikes being by the moft and
choiced . palates obferved to be the bed meat y .
and contrary, the Eel is obferved to be the better
for age and bignefs.
large. There 5s a fly called the horfe-lcech fly, which he is
very fond of; they are of various colours, have great heads,
large bodies, ^tty Ittv tails, and two, and fome^iave three*^
pair of wings, placed behind each other : behind each pair
of wings whip the body about with gold or £lver twifl, or
both, and do the fame by the head ; with this fly (ifli at«
length, as for Trout and Grayling : but if you dib, do it
with tu'O or three butterflies of diiFerent colours, orwi(h
fome of the moft glaring fnnall flies yon can find.
The winch is peculiarly appropriated to fly-fifliing : The
manner of ufing it, you will find in th^dditional duedtions
for taking the Trout.
All
Chap. VIILT^^ Complete Angler. 157
All Pikes that live long prove chargeable to
their keepers, becaisfe their life is maintained by
the death of fo many other fi(h, even thofe ci
their own kind ; which has made him by feme
writers to be called the tyrant of the rivers, or
the frefli water wolf, by reafon of his bold,
greedy, devouring difporuion, which is fo keen,
as Gefner relates a man going to a pond, where
it feems a Pike had devoured all the fi(h, to water
his mule, had a Pike bit his mule by the lips ;
to which the Pike hung fo fad, that the mule
drew him out of the water, and by that accident
the owner of the mule angled out the Pike.
And the fame Gefner obferves, that a maid in
Poland had a Pike bit her by the foot as flie was
walhing clothes in a pond. And I have heard
the like of a woman in KiUingworib pond, not
far from Coventry. But I have been afiured by
my friend Mr. Seagrave^ of whom I fpake co
you formerly *y that keeps tame Otters, that
he hath known a Pike in extrcam hunger fight
with one of his Otters for a Carp that the Otter
l^^d caught, and was then bringing out of the
water. I have told you who relates thefe things,
and tell you they are perfons of credit, and (hall
conclude this obfervation, by telling you what
a wife man has obfcrved, " Jt is a hard thing to
•' perfuadc the belly, beqiufe ir has no ears f."
But
• Sec Page 50.
f As acoDfirmation of the above parcicalars, take the fot-
lowing relation of the beforementioned Mr. Bowlker^ '^ Mf
•* father catched a Pike In Barn-Meer, (a large ftanding
•* water in Chepitt) was an ell long, and weighed thirty*five
•* pounds, which he brought to the lord Chobnandely : his
^ lordihip ordered it to be turned into a canal in the gar-
" dCD,
158 ll'be Complete Angler, Pari^.
But if thefe relations be difbelieved, it is too
evident to be doubted, that a Pike will devour a
fiih of his own kind, that (halite bigger than
his belly or throat will receive,^ and (wallow a
part of him, and let the other part remain in his
mouth till the fwallowed part be digefted, and
then fwallow that other part that was in his
mouth, and fo put it over by degrees ; which is
not unlike the ox and fome other beads taking
their meat, not out of their mouth immediately
into their belly, but firft into fome place betwixt,
and then chew it, or digeft it by degrees after,
which isi called chewing the cud. And doubt-
Icfs Pikes will bite when they are not hungry, but
as fome think, even for very anger, when a
tempting bait comes near to them.
And it is obfcrved, that the Pike will eat ve*
nemoujf things, as fome kind of frogs are, and yet
live without being harmed by them : for as fome
fay, be has in him a natural balfam, or antidote
againft all poifon : and^ he has a ftrange heat.
den, wherein were abundance af feveral forts of Efh*
About twelve months after his lordfhip draw'd the caimi^
and found that this overgrown Pike had devoured all thf
hih, except one large Carp, that weighed between nine
and ten pounds, and that was bitten in feveral placek
The Pike was then put into the canal again, together
with abundance of fifli with him to feed upon, all which
he devoured in lefs than a year's time ; and was obfertred
by the gardener and workmen there, to take the ducks,
and other water fowl, underwater : whereupon they (hot
magpies and crows, and threw them into the canal,
whichf the Pike took before their eyes : of this they ac<
quainced their lord, who thereupon ordered theflaughter*.-
man to fling in calves-bellies, chickens guts, and fach*
like garbage, to him, to prey upon \ but bein^ foon
after neglefted, hedi^d,,as fnppafed, for want of tood,^\
■ \ that
phap. VIII. ^ie CoMFLETE Angler. -159
that though it appears to us to be coldi can yec
digeil or put over, any fiflv-flefli by degreci
tvithout b^ing fick. And others obferve, chat
he never eats the venemous frog till he have firft
killed her, and then, as ducks are obferved to
do to frogs in fpawning time, at which time fome
froes arc obferved to be venemous, fo thoroughtf
warned her, by tumbling her up and down in
the water, that he rtiay devour her without
danger. And Gefner affirms, that a Polonian
gentleman did faithfully aflfure him, he had
ieen two young geefe at one time in the belly
of a Pike. And doubtlefs a Pike in his height
of hunger, will bite at and devour a dog that
fwims in a pond ; and there have been examples
of it, or the like j for as I told you, " The
*^ belly has no ears when hunger comes upoa
« it/*
The Pike is al(b obferved to be a folitary, me*
lancholy, and a bold ii(h : melancholy, becaufe
he always fwims or rcfts himfelf alone, and ne-
ver fwims in (hoks or with company, as Roach
and Dace, and mod: other fi(h do : and bold,
becaufe he fears not a (kadow, or to lee or be
feen of any body, as the Trout and Chub, and
all otlier filh do.
And k is obferved by Gefner^ that tlve jaw-
bones, and hearts and galls of Pikes, are very
medicinal for ftvcral difeafes, or to flop blood,
to abate fevers, to cure agues, to oppofe or exr
pel the infection of the plague, and to be many
ways medicinal and ufcful for the good of
mankind ; but be obferves, that the bitting of
a Pike is venomous and hard to be cured.
' And
i^o ifhe Complete Angle'Ii. P4rt L
And it is obferved, that che Pike is afi(h thac
breeds but once a year» and that other fifh, as
namely Loaches, do breed oftener : as we are
certain tame Pigeons do almoft every month, and
yet the hawk, a bird of prey, as the Pike is of
fifli, breeds but once in twelve months : and you
are to note, that his time of breeding or rpawn->
ing, is ufually about the end of February^ or fome*
iwhat later, in Marcb^ as the weather proves
colder or warmer ; and to note, that his manner
of breeding is thus ^ a he and a (be-Pike will
ufually go together out of a river into fome
ditch or creek, and that there the fpawner cafts
i^ci* ^ggs» ^^^ ^he mclter hovers over her all
that time that (he is calling her fpawn, but
touches her not *.
I might fay more of this, but it might be
thought curiofity or worfe, and (hall therefore
forbear it, and take up fo much of your atten-
tion, as to tell you, th^ the beft of Pikes are
noted to be in rivers, next thofe in great ponds,
or meres, and the word in fmall ponds.
But before I proceed further, I am to tell you,
that there is a great antipathy betwixt the PikQ
and fome frogs ; and this may appear to the
reader of Dubravius^ a bifliop in Bohemia -f-, whp
in his book of fiih and fi(h-ponds, relates what
• Veryjatc dircoveriesof natoraliils contradid this hypo-
thefis concerning the generation of fifhes, and prove that
they are produced by the conjunfilon of. the male and ^-
male, as other animals are. See the Phild/ophieal Tratt/a<»
tionst Vol. 48. Part z- for the year 17541.. pag« 870.
t Janus Dubra<uius publifhed in 15591 ^ ^vork entitled,
Di Pi/ciHis 1$ Pi/dum^ qui iff eis aluntur uatuns, ixk five
I books.
be
J
(4
it
i(
C4
C4
(4
Chap. VIII. 7*^? Complete Angler. i6i
he fays he faw with his own eyes, and could not
forbear to tell the reader. Which was ;
As he and the bifhop Tburzo were walking
by a large pond in Bohemia^ they faw a frog,
when the Pike lay very fleepily and quiet by
the fhore-fide, leap upon his head, and the
frog having expreft malice or anger by his
*' fwoln cheeks and ftaring eyes, did ftretch out
^' his legs and embraced the Pike's head, and
** prefently reached them to his eyes, tearing
** with them and his teeth thofe tender parts ;
the Pike moved with anguilh, moves up and
down the water, and rubs himfelf againft
*' weeds, and whatever he thought might quit
*• him of his enemy ; but all in vain, for the
** frog did continue to ride triumphantly, and
** to bite and torment the Pike, till his ftrength
*' failed, and then the frog funk with the Pike to
" the bottom of the water ; then prefently the
•* frog appeared again at the top and croaked,
^^ and feemcd to rejoice like a conqueror, after
which he prefently retired to his fecret Jiolc.
The biQiop, that had beheld the battle, called
*' his fiflierman to fetch his nets, and by all
means to get the Pike, that they might de-
clare what had happened : and the Pike was
drawn forth, and both his eyes eaten out, at
which when they began to wonder ^ the fifli-*
*^ erman wifhcd them to forbear, and affurcd
** them he was certain that Pikes were often fo
" ferved."
I told this, which is to be read in the fixth
chapter of the book of Dubravias^ unto a.fricnd,
who replied, *^ It was as improbable as to have
•* the moufe fcratch out the cat's eyes." But he
M ^ did
44
44
44
44
44
44
j62 Tie Complete ANCLERr FariL
did not confider;^ that there be fifhing frogs^
which the Dalmatians call the water-devil, of
which I might tell you as wonderful a ftory, but
i fhall tell you, that *t9S upt'io be doubted, but-
that there be fome frogs fo fearful of the water-
fnake, that, when they fwim in a place in which
they fear tiihmtct with him, they then^^eta reed
acrol^into t^eir mouths, which if they tvw ix^eet
by acKrid^t, fasures the frog, from (he Hrengtlr
and malice of the fnake i and note, that the frog
ufually fwims the fafteft of the two.
And let nrie tell you, that as there be water
and land- frogs, fo there be land and water*
fnakes. Concerning which take this pbferva--
tion, that the land-lhake breeds, and hatches
her eggs, which become young fnakes, in forne
old dunghill, of a like hot place ; but the water*
(hake, which is not venomous, and as I have
been affured by a great obfervcr of fuch fecrets,
does not hatch but breed her young alive, which
fhe does not then forfake, but bides with them^
and in cafe of danger will take them all into
her mouth and fwim away from any apprehended
danger, and then let them out agam when (he
thinks all danger to be pad ; thefe be accidents
that we anglers fometimes fee, and often talk of.
But whither am I going ? I had almoft loft
myfelf, by remembering the difcourfe of Duhra-^
vius. I will therefore ftop here, and tell you^
according to my promife^ how to catch this
Pi K E<
Chap. VIII. Thi Complets Akgl£r. \6%
PlKLK
His feeding is ufualiy ""f fi(h or frogs, and
fomenmes a weed of his own called pickerel-
weed. Of which I told you, fome think fomC
Pikes are bred j for they have obferved, that
■where none have been put into ponds, yet they
have there found many ; and thai there has been
plenty of. that weed in thofe ponds, and that
that weed both breeds and feeds them; but whe-
ther thofe Pikes fo bred will ever breed by gene-
ration as the others do, I fliall leave to the dif-
quifitions of men of more curiofity and leifure
than I profefs myfelf to have ; and fliall proceed
to tell you, that you may fi(h for a Pike, either
with a ledger or a walking-bait ; and you are to
note, that 1 call that a ledger-bait, which is Bxed
or made to reft in one certain place when you
. fliall beabfent from it : and Icallthatawalking;
bait, which yoa take with you, and have ever*
in motion. Concerning which two, J fliall give ,
M 2 you
164 Tbe Complete Ajioler. Part I.
you this dire£tioo ; that your ledger-bait is beft
to be a living bait, though a dead one may catch,
\srhether it be a fiQi or a frog ; and that you may
make them live the longer, you may, or indeed
you muft, take this courfe.
Firft, for your live- bait of a filh, a roach or
dace is, I think, befl: and moft tempting, and
a pearch is the longed lived on a hook, and
having cut off his fin on his back, which may be
done without hurtiiig him, you muft take your
knife, which cannot be too fbarp, and betwixt
the head and the fin on the back, cut or make
an incifion, or fuch a fear, as you may put the
arming wire of your hook into it, with as little
bruifing or hurting the fifh as art and diligence
will enable you to do ; and fo carrying your arm-
ing wire along his back, unto, or near the tail
of your fifh, betwixt the (kin and the body of it,
draw out that wire or arming of your hook at
another fear near to his tail : then tie him about
it with thread, but no harder than of neceiHty to
prevent hurting the filh ; and the better to avoid
hurting the fifh, fome have a kind of probe to
©pen the way, for the more eafy entrance and
pafTage of your wire or arming : but as for thcfc,
time, and a little experience, will teach ypu better
than I can by words j therefore I will for the
prefent fay no more of this, but come next to
give you fome direAions how to bait your hook
V^ith a frog.
Fen. But, good mafter, did you not fay even
now, that fome frogs were venomous, and is it
not dangerous to touch them ?
Fife. Yes, but I will give you fome rules or
cautions concerning them : and firft, you arc to
6 note,
Chap. VIIL The C6mplete Angler. 165
note, that there are two kinds of frogs ; that is
to fay, if 1 may fo cxprcfs myfcif, a flefli and
a fifti-frog : by flcfli-frogs, I mean frogs that
breed and live on the land j and of thefc there be
fcveral forts alfo, and of fcveral colours, fome
being fpeckled, fome greenifli, fome blackiOi, or
brown : the green frog, which is a fmall one, is
by Top/el taken to be venomous ; and fo is the
padock or frog-padock, which ufually keeps or
breeds on the land, and is very large and boney,
and big, efpecially the (he-frog of that kind ; yet
thele will fometinies come into the water, but it
is not often ; and the land-frogs are fome of
them obferved by him, to breed by laying eggs :
and others to breed of the (lime and duft of the
earth, and that in winter they turn to (lime
again, and that the next fummer that very (lime
returns to be a living creature; this is theopinion
of PUny^ and * Cardanus + under-
takes to give a reafon for the rain- * ^° ^" V?^^
r c JL u ^ -r • • Book Dejub'
iDg of frogs % : but if it were in my ^^^ ^^^ -^
power it (hould rain none but water-
frogs, for thofe 1 think are not venomous, efpe-
cially the right water- frog, which about February
ox March breeds in ditches by (lime, and blacki(h
f Cardmn^ a^ liidiam phyfician, natnralift and aflro1oeer»
well known by tbe many works he has publifbed : he died
at Rome 1 5 76. Jt is faid that he had foretold the day of his
death ; and that, when it approached, he fufPered himfelf
to die of hunger to prcferve bis reputation. He had been
in SftgJandf and wrote a charader of our EifnvardVI.
I There are many well attefted acc<^unts of the raining
of frogs ; but Mr. Ray rejefts them as utterly falfe and ri-
dtculousy and demonftratcs the impoilibility of their pro-
dudlion in any fuch manner. Wifdom of G$d in tht creation^
310. Sec alfo DerbamU Phyf, TheoL 244.
M 3 eggs
i66 The CdMPtETE Angler. Parti.
eggs in that flimc : .about which time of breeding
the he and ftie-frog$ are obferved to ufe divers
fummerfauks, and to croak and make a notfe,
which the land-frog, or padock-frog, never does.
Now of thefe water-frogs, if you intend to fifti
with a frog for a Pike, you are to chufe the
yelloweft that you can get, for that the Pike
ever likes beft. And thus ufe your frog, that
he may continue long alive.
Put your hook into his mouth, which you may
eafily do from the middle of y^ril till Auguft^
and then the frog's mouth grows up, and he
continues fo for at lead fix months without eat«
ing, but is fuftained, none, but he whofe name is
Wonderful, knows hoyv : I fay, put your hook, I
mean the arming wire, through his mouth, and
out at his gills, and then with a fine needle and
filk fpw the upper part of his leg with only one
ftitch to the arming wire of your hook, or tic
the frog's leg above the upper joint to the armed
wire, and in fo doing, ufe him as though yott
loved him, that is, harm him as little i% you
may poflibly, that he may live the longer.
And now, having given you this dircftion for .
the baiting your ledgcr^hook with a live filh or
frog, my next muft be to tell you, how your
hook thus baited muft or raiay be ufed : and it
is thus. Having faftened your hook to a line,
which, if it be not fourteen yards long, fhould
not be lefs than twelve, you are to faften that
line to any bough near to a hole where a Pike is,
or is likely to lie, or to have a haunt, and then
wind your line on any forked ftick, all y6ur line,
except half a yard of it, or rather more, and
fpUt that forked ftick with fuch a nick or notch
I at
Chap. VIII. ^e Compute Angicr. 167
at one end of it,, as may keep the line from any
cnore of it ravelling from about the ftick than
fo much of it as you intend -, and chufe your
forked ftidc to be of that bignefs as may keep
the fifli or frog from pulling the forked (tick
under the water till the Pike bites, and then the
Pike having pulled the line forth of the cleft or
flick of that ftick in which it was gently faftened,
he will have line enough to go to his hold and
pouch the bait: and if you would have this
ledger-bait to keep at a fixt place, undifturbed
by wind or other accidents which may drive it to
the ihore-fide (for you are to note, that it is'
likelieft to catch a Pike in the midft of the water)
then hang a fmall plummet of lead, a ftone, or
piece <^ tile, or a turf in a ftring, and caft it
into the water with the forked ftick, to hang
upon the ground, to be a kind of anchor to keep
the forked ftick from moving out of your in-
tended place till the Pike come. This I take to
be a very good way, to ufe fo many ledger-baits
as you intend to make trial of.
Or if you bait your hooks thus with live-fifli
or frogs, and in a windy day, faften them thus
to a bough or bundle of ftraw, and by the help
of that wind can get them to move crofs a pond
or mere, you are like to ftand ftill on the (hore and
fee fport prefcntly if there be any ftore of Pikes 5
or thefe live-baits may make fport, being tied
about the body or wings of a goofe or duck, and
flie chafed over a pond * : and the like may be
done
• ji rod tnadmefeit hng^ and a ring of iwre^
A 'winder and barrel^ <will help thy Jefirt
In killing a Pike ; hut the forked fiick^
With ajtit And a bladder ^ and tJjat 9therfint tricky
M 4 mM
i68 7'he Complete A^rGLEJt. Parti.
done with turning three or fouir live-baits thus
faftened to bladders, or bought or bottles of hay
or flags, to fwim down a river, whilft you walk
quietly alone on the (hore, and arc ftill in expec-
tation of fport. The reft muft be taught you
by pradice, for time will not allow me to fay
more of this kind of fifhing with live- baits.
And for your dead-bait for a Pike, for that
you may be taught by one day's going a fifhing
with me, or any other body that fiflics for him^
for the baiting your hook with a dead gudgeon
or ,a roach, and moving it up and down thj^
water, is too eafy a thing to take up any time to
dired you to do it ; and yet, becaufc I cut you
Ihort in that, I will commute for it by telling
you, that that was told me for a fecret : it is this.
Diflblve gum of ivy in oil of fpike, and
therewith anoint your deadbait for a Pike, and
then caft it into a likely place, and when it has
lain a fliort time at the bottom, draw it towards
the top of the water and fo up the ftream, and
it is more than likely that you have a Pike foUpw
with more than common eagernefs.
And fome affirm, ^that any bait anointed with
the marrow of the thigh-bone of an hern, is a
great temptation to any fi(h.
Which ear artifts call /nap f ivifh a geofe or a duck^
Will kill fwofor one^ if you ha*ue any luck.
^he gentry of Shropfhire do merrily fmile^
To fie a goofe and a belt thefijh to beguile :
When a tike funs bimfelf and afrogging dothgo^
^be two inched hook is better^ I kncwt
Than the ordinary fnaringy but fill I muft cry.
When the Fike is at home, mind the cookery.
' Mr. Barker.
Thefc
Chap. VIII. Tj&tf Complete Angler, 169
Thcfe have not been tried by me, but told
tne by a friend of note, that pretended to do me
a courtefy ; but if this direiftion to catch a Pike
thus do you no good, yet 1 am certain this dt*-
reftion how to roaft him when he is caught, is
choicely good, for I have tried it, and it is
fomewhat the better for not being common ; but
with my diredtion you muft take this caution,
that your Pike muft not be a fmall one, that is,
it muft be piore than half a yard, and ihould be
bigger.
Firft, open your Pike at the gills, and if need
be, cut alio a little flit cowards the belly ; out of
thefe take his guts and keep his liver, which you
are to fhred very fmall with thyme, fweet maijo*
ram, and a little winter- favoury ; to thefe put
fome pickled oyfters, and fome anchovies, two
dr three, both thcfe laft whole, for the anchor-
vies will melt, and the oyfters Ihould not ; to
thefe you. muft add alfo a pound of fweet butter,
which you are to mix with the herbs that are
ihred, and let them all be well falted ; if the
Pike bje more than a yard long, then you may
pujt into thefe herbs more than a pound, or if
he be lefs, then lefs butter will fufficc : thefe
being thus mixt with a blade or two of mace,
muft be put into the Pike's belly, and then his
belly fo fewed up, as to keep all the butter in
his belly if it be polTible ; if not, then as much
of it as you poflibly can, but take not oft* the
fcales; then you are to thruft the fpit through
his mouth, out at his tail, and then take four, or
five, or fix fplit fticks or very thin laths, and a
convenient quantity of tape or filleting; thcfe
laths are to be tied found about the Pike's body
from
/ ,
170 T'i^ Complete Angler. Parti.
From his head to his tail, and the tape tied fome-
ivhat thick to prevent his breaking or falling ofF
ff om the (pit ; let him be roafted very leifurely,
and often baited with claret wine, and ancho«-
viics^ and butter mixt together^ and alfo with
what moifture falls from him into the pan : when
you have roafted him fufficiently, you are to hold
imder him, when you unwind or cut the tape that
ties him,, fuch a difh as you purpofe to eat him
out of; and let him fall into it with the fauce
that is roafted in his belly, and by this means the
Pike will be kept unbroken and complete : then,
to the fauce which was .within, and alfo that
fatfce in the parii you are to add a fit quantity of
the befi butter, and to fqueeze the juice of three
or four oranges : laftly, you may either put into.
the Pike with the oyfters two cloves of garlick,
and take it whole out, when the Pike is cut off'
the fpit i or to give the fauce a hogoo, let the dilh
ioto which you let the Pike fall, be rubbed with
ii : the ufing or not ufing of this garlkk is left
to your difcrction.
M. B.
This difli of meat is too good for any but
anglers, or very honeft men ; and I truft, you
will prove both, and therefore I have trufted
you with this fecret.
Let me next tell you, that Gefner tells us there
are no Pikes in Spai^^ and that the largeft are in
the lake Thrafymene in Italy •, and the next, if
not equal to them, are the Pikes of England \ and
that in England^ Uncolnjhire boaftcth to have the^
biggeft *. Juft fo doth Sujfex boaft of four forts
• They are faid to grow to the lengthof forty- five inches,.
^ of
Chap. VIII. The Complete Angler. 17I '
of fifli, namely an Arundel Mullet, a Cbichefter
Lobfter, a Shelfey Cockle, and an Amerly Trout.
But I will take up no niore of your time with
this relation, but proceed to give you fome ob-
fervations of the Carp, and h(^ to angle for
him, and to drefs him, but not tUl he is caught *«
CHAP.
* The Pike lovei a till, fliady, nn frequented water, and
ufually lies amoogfty or near weedf ; foch as flags, t>uU
ru(hes, candocka, reeds, or in the green fog that feme-
times covers landing waters, thoagh^he will Sometimes
(hoot out into the clear ftream. He is (bmetimes caught at
the top, and in the middle, and often, efpecially in cold
weather, at the bottom.
Their time of fpawning is about the end oi Fihruaty^ or
the beginning of March ; and chief feafon from the end of
May to the beginning of February,
The baits ror Pike, befides thofe mentioned by Waliovt
are fmall trouts, loaches, miller's-thunibs, the head -end of
an eel, with the (kin taken off below the fins, fmall jacks,
lob-worms; and in winter the fat of bacon. And, not-
withftanding what Walton and others fay againft baiting
with a pearch, it is confidently' afferted, that Pikes have
been taken with a fmall pearch, when neither roach nor
bleak Would tempt them.- See the Angler'' s fur e Guide ^ 15?.
Obferve that all your baits for Pike muft be as frefh as
Y>oflible. Living- baits you may take with you in a tin
kettle, changing the water often ; and dead ones fhould
be carried in frefh bran, which will dry up that mpiilure
that otherwife would infedl and rot them. Venables*
It is ftrange that Walton has faid fo little of trolling ; a
method of fiihing for Pike, which has been thought worthy
of adiftin^ treatife ; for which method, and for the fnap,
take thefc dire^ions ; and firft for troHing :
And note that, in trolling, theheadof the bait-filh mud
be at the bent of the hook ; whereas, in filhingat the fnap,
•the hook mull come out at or near his taif. But the e/Ten-
tial difference between thefe two methods is, that in the
former the Pike is always fufFerad to pouch or fwallow
the bait, but in the latter you are to ttrike as foon as he has
taken it*
Tha
lyz ^i&e Co MP LIT B Angler. Parti.
CHAP. IX.
Obfer^ations of the Cart, with DireSliont
how tojijhfor him.
PiSCATOR.
TH E Carp is the queen of rivers : a ftatc-
ly, a good, and a very fubtil fifh, th^c
was noc at firft bred, nor hath been long
in England^ but is now naturalizeci. It is faid,
they were brought hither by one Mr. MafcaU a
gentleman that then lived at Plumjied in Suffex^
a county that abounds more with this fifh than
any in this nation.
You
The rod for trolling ihould be about three yards and a
half \ongf with a ring at the top for the line to run through r
or you may fit a trolling- top to your fly- rod, which need
only be llronger than the common fly- top.
^ Let yoar line be of green or fky-coloured filky thirty
yards In length, which will make it neceiTary to ufe the
winch, as is before dire^ed, with a fwivel at the end.
The common trolling-hook for a li.ving.1>ait, confifts
of two large hooks, with one common (hank, madeofone^
p^jsce of wire, of about three quarters of an inch long,
placed back to back, fo that the points x^Siy not iland in
a righ^ine, but incline fo ipuch inwards, as that* they
wjith the (hank may form an angle little lefs.than equilate-
ral. At the top of the [hank is a loop left in the bending
the wire lo make the hook double, through which is put a
(Irong twifted brafs wire, of about fix inches long ; and to
this is looped another fuch link, but both fo loo^ that the
hook and the lower link may have room to play : to the
end of the line faften a ftcel fwivel.
' To bait the hook, obferve the direftions given by Walton,
But there is a fort of trolling-hook different from that
already defcribed, and to which it is thought preferable,
wlfiich will require another management ; this is no morethan
two
y
Chap, IX. ^ht CoMPLETB Angler. 173
You may remember tl\at I told you, Gtfner
fays, there are no Pikes in Spain ; and doubt Icfs,
there was a time, about a hundred or a few more
years ago, when there were no Carps in England^
as may be feen to be affirmed by S\r JRicbard Baker^
in whofe Chronicle you my find thefe verfes:
Hops and iurkiesj carps and beer^
Came into England all in a year.
And
two fingle hooks tied back to back with a ilrong piece of
gimp between the fhanks ; in the whipping the hooks and
the gimp together, make a fmall loop, and take into it two
links of chain of about an eighth of an inch diameter ; and
into the lower link, by means of a fmall ftaple of wire,
faften, by the greater end, a bit of lead of a conical figure*
and fomewhat iharp at the point. Thefe hooks are to be
had at the fiihing-^tackle (hops ready fitted op ; bnt fee the
form of them Plate IX. Fig. 5.
This latter kind of hook is to be thus ordered^ miz* put
the lead into the mouth of the bait-fi(h, and few it up, the
fifb will live fome timd; and though the weight of the lead
will keep his head down, he will fwim with near the fame
eafe as if at liberty.
But if you troll with adead-bait» as fome do» for a reafea
which the angler will be glad to know, <v/». that a living-
bait makes too great a {laughter among the fiih» do it with a
hook, of which the following paragraph contains a de-'
fcription.
Let the (hank be about fix inches long, and leade^from
the middle as low as the bent of the hook, to which ^>iece
of very flrong gimp muil be faftened by a ftaple, and two
links of chain; the (hank mud be batbed like a dart, and
the lead a quarter of an inch fquare : the barb of the fliank
muft iland like the fluke of an anchor, which is placed in
a contrary diredion to that of the (lock. See Plate IX. Fig. 6.
Let the gimp be about a foot long, and to the end thereof
^x a fwivel : to bait it; thruft the barb of the ihank into
the mouth of the bait-(i(h, aiid bring it out at his fide near
the tail : when the barb is thus brought through it cannot
return, and the fi(h will lie perfectly (Irait, a circumftanccf
that renders the trouble of tying the tail ttnnece(ray.
There
1^4 5ri^ Cgmi*le*b Awgler* Part h
And doubtlefs as of fea-fifli the Herring dies
focfneft out of the water, and of frcfti- water- fifh
the Trout, fo, except the Eel, the Carp endures
moft hardnefs, and lives longeft out of his own
proper element. And therefore the report of the
Carp's being brought out of a foreign country
into this nation, is the more probable.
Carps
There is yet another ibrt of trolling-hook, which is, in-
deed, no other that what moft writers on this fubje^ have
mentioned ; whereas the others, here defcribed, are late im-
provements ; and this is a hook either iingle or double, with
a long fiiank, leaded about three inches up the wire with a
piece of lead about a quarter of an inch fquare at the greater
or lower end ; fix to the (hank an armed wire about eight
inches long : to bait his, hook thruft your wire into the
month of the fi(h, quite through his belly, and out at his
tail, placing the wire fo as that the point of the hook may
be even with the belly of the bait-fifli, and then tie the
tail of the fiih with ftrortg thread to tUe wire ; fome faften
it with a needle and thread, which is a neat way.
Both with the troll and at the fnap, cut away one of
the fins of the bait-fifh clofe at the gills; and another be-
hind the vent on the contrary fide, which will make it
play the better.
The bait being thus fixed, is to be thrown in, and kept
in conftant motion in the water, fbmetimes fuffered to fink,
then gradually raifed ; now drawn with the ftream, and theft
again^ it, fo aa to counterfeit the motion of a fm all fifh in
iwimming. If a Pike is near, he miilakes the bait for a
living fi(h» feiaes it with prodigious greedinefs, goes off
with it to his hold, and in about ten minutes pouches it.
Wlien he has thus fwallovved the bait, you will fee the line
move, which is the fignal for flriking him ; do this with
two lufty jerks, and then play hira.
The other way of taking Pike, «w*2. with the ffiap. Is as
follows ;
Let the rod be twelve feet long, very ftrong and taper,
with a ftrong loop at the top to faften your line to ; your
line muft be about a foot fhorter than the rod^ and much
firongerthan the trolling- line.
And
Chap, IX. ^be Complete Akcler. 175
Carps and Loaches are obferved to breed fe-
veral months in one year^ which Pikes and moft
other fi(h do not. . And this is partly proved bf
lame and wild rabbets, as alfo by fome ducket
which will lay eggs nine of the twelve months,
and yet there be other ducks that lay no longer
than
And here it is neceiTary to be remembered, that there are
two ways of fnapping for Pike, <viai. with the live and witk
the dead-fnap.
For the live-fnap, there is "ho kind of hook fo proper as
the double fpring hook ; the form whereof, in two viewi«
is given in Plate IX. Fig. 7. and 8. to bait it nothing more
is neceflary than to hang the bait-ii(h faft by the back- fin
to the middle hook, where he will live a long time.
Of hooks for the dead-fnap there are many kinds. Fig. 9*
of Plate IX. is a reprefentation of one, which, after repeated
trials, has been found to excel all others hitherto known ; the
defcription and ufe of it is as follows, <z;/«. Whip two hooks,
of about three eighths of an inch in the bent, to a piece of
gimp, in the manner dire^ed for that troll ing-hoolc a
view of which is given Plate IX. Fig. 5. Then take a
piece of lead, of the fame fize and figure as direded for
thetrolling-hook above-mentioned, and drill a hole throogb
it from end to end : to bait it take a long needle, orwi^e ;
enter it in at the fide, about half an inch above the taiU
and with it pafs the gimp between the fkin and the ribs of
the fiih, bringing it out at his mouth ; then put the lead
over the gimp, draw it down into the fifli's throat, and
prefs his mouth clofe, and then, having a fwivel to your
line, hang on the gimp.
In throwing the bait, obferve the rules given for trolling s
but remember, that the more yon keep it in motion, the
nearer it referobles a living ii(h.
When you have a bite, flrike immediately the contrary
way to that which the head of the Pike likes, or to which he
goes with the bait ; if you cannot find which way his head
lies, flrike upright with two froart jerks, retiring backwards
as fail as you can, till you have brought him to a landing*
place, and then do as before is direfted.
. There
jj6 W^ Complete Angler. Parti.
than about one month. And it is the rather to
be believed, becaufc you (hall fcarcc or never
take a Male-Carp without a melt, or a female
without a roe or fpawn, and for the moft part
There are vanoas other methods, bothof (rolliiig and fifli*
ing at the fnap, whkh, if the reader is defifous to know,
he may find defcribed in the Complete Trailer j by R^. NohBes^
izmo, 1 6S 2 9 zad the Jngler's/ure Gut Je 9 bsfore-mentioned*
As the Pike fpawns in March^ and before that month
rivers are feldom in order for fifhing, it will hardly be
worth while to begin trolling till April\ after that the
\9tt^% will be apt to be troublefome. But the prime month
in the year for trolling is Oaohery when the Pike are fattened
by their fommer's feed, the weeds are rotted, ^nd by the
falling of the waters the har boars of the fi(h are eafily found.
Chufe to troll in clear, and not muddy water, and ia
windy weather, if the wind be not eaflerly.
Some ufe in trolling and fnapping two or more fwivels to
their line, by means whereof the twifting of the line is pre-
vented, the bait plays more freely, and, though dead, is
made to appear as if alive ; which, in rivers, is doubtlefs an
excellent way : but thofe who can like to fifh in ponds or
fiill waters, will find very little occafion for more than one.
The Pike is alfo to be caught with a minnow, for which
method take the following diredions :
Get a (ingle hook, (lender, and long in the (hank ; let it
re(emble the (bape of a (hepherd's crook ; put lead upon it,
as thick near the bent as will go into the minnow's mouth ;
place the point of the hook diredly up the face of the fi(h ;
let the rod be as long as you can handfomely manage, with
a line of the fame length, cafl up and down, and manage
it as when you troll with any other bait : if, when the
Pike hath taken your bait, he run to the end of the line be-
fore he hath gorged it, do not ilrike, bat hold dill only,
and he will return back and fwallow it : But if you ufe
that bait with a troll, I rather prefer it before any other
bait that I know. Venahles.
In landing a Pike great caution is nece(rary, for his bite
is efteemed venomous : the heft and fafeft hold you can take
of him 4s by the head, in doing which, place your thumb
and finger in his eyes.
very
Chip. IX; i%e CtoMPtEtB AndtERi -177
Very mticht and efpccilKUy all the ibmincr-fcafdri ^
Sirid it is obferved, that they breed more natu*
^atly in ponds than iH running waters^ if tliey
breed there at all ; and that thofe that live in
rivers; are taken by men of the bed palates to
be nlucK the better meat.
Aiid it is obferved, that in fome ponds Carpft
will riot breeds efpfecially in told ponds ; but
Ivhere they will breed, they breed innumerably t
j/triftoik and P&17 fay^ fix times in a year, if
there be no Pikes nor Pearch to devour their
jpawn, when it i^ caft upon grafs, or tLzofi or
ifreeds^ where it lies ten or twelve days before it
be enlivened.
The Carp, if he have Watef-rooni and good
feed, will grow to a very great bignefs and
length ; I have heard^ to be much above a yard
long; ^is faidi by Javius *, who hath writ of
fiflies, that in the lake Lurian ia Itafyi C^lips
have thriven to be more than fifty pounds
lireight ; which is the more probable, for as the
bear is conceiv'd and born fuddenty, and being
isorn is but fhort*Hved i fo, on the contrary, the
iflepbant is faid to be two years in his dam'3
belly, fome think he is ten years in it, and being
born, grows in bignefs twenty yeafsi and 'tisob-
ferved too^ that he lives to the age of an hundred
^ears. And 'tis alfo obferved, that the crocodile
ts very long-liv'd, and more than that, that all
that long life he thrives in bignefs ; and (b I
chink fome Carps do, efpecially in fome places 1
* Pauba y^^iust an liatian bi&On^ ef very doubtful
mtthority: he IWed m the 1 6th century* and wrote a ftnalt
%9^Sk,£c RotnamsPi/dhis, He died at /"/^rr/rrf > 1552.
N thdUgh,
riyS • Tbi Goi^ptETE An G LEU. ■ Parti.
4:hough I never faw one above twenty-thitc
inches, which was a great and a goodly fi(h ;
tut have been aflured there lire of a far greater
£ze, and in England too *•
cT Now, as the increafe of Carps is wonderful
for their number, fo there is not a teafon found
t)ut, I think by any, why they (hould breed in
Ibme ponds, and not in others df the fame na«
ture for foil and all other circumftances : and as
their breeding, fo are their decays alfavery myf-
terious : I have both read it and been told by
U gentleman of tried honefty, that he has known
ttxcy or more large Carps put into feveral poods
near to a houfe, where, by reafon of the ftakes
in the ponds, and the owner's conftant being near
to them, it was impoflible they ihould be ftole
away from him : and that when he has^after three
or four years emptied the pond, and expeded
dn increafe from them by breeding young one^^
for that they mdghtdo fo, he had, as the rule is^
put in three melters for one fpawner, he has, I fay;
.after three or four years, found neither a young
tior old Carp remaining. And the like I have
known of one that has almod watched the pond^
and at a like diftance of time at the fifliing of
a pond, found of feventy or eighty. large Carps
not above five or fix. And that he had forbctfn
longer to fiih the faid pond, but that hefaw in a
hot day in fummer, a large Carpfwim near the
top of the water with a frog upon his head, and
that he upon that occ^fion caufed his pond to be
'^Thetuthor of Th j^gler^s/ure GttiJe {ay s^ that lie has
taken Carp above twenty-fix inches k>ag in rivers ; and
adds, that they are ofcen feen in England above thirty inches
long,
? - •. let
ap« IX. The CofiPtETi AiiGtza. 1^9
let dry : drid I fty, of fcVcnty or eighty Carps^
bnly found five or fix ih the faid pond, and thoic
very fick and lean, and with every one a frog
ftickihg fo faft on the head of the faid Carps,
that the frog ^ould not be got off without ex-
treme force or killing : and the gentleman that
Sid affirm this to me, told me he faw it, and did
declare his belief to be, and I alfo believe the
fame, that he thought the 6ther Carps that were
ib ftrangely loft, were fo killed by frogs, and
then devoured.
Arid a perfon of honour, now living in WcT'-
tefterjinriy affured me he had feen a necklace, or
collar of tadpoles, hang like a chain or necklace
bf beads about a Pike's neck, and to kill him ;
whether it be for meat or malice, muft be to
iiie a queftion.
But I am fallen into this difcourfe by accident,
bf which I might fay more^ but it has proved
longer than I intended, and poflibly may not to
you be confiderable : I (hall therefore give you
three or four more Ihort obfcrvations of the
Carp, and then fall upon fome direftions how
.you (hall fi(h for him.
The age of Carps is by Sir Francis Bacon, in
his hiftory of life and death, obferved to be but
ten years, yet others think they live longer. Gef^
ner.hySy a Carp has been known to live in the
Palatinate above a hundred years : But moft oon-
dude, that, contrary to the Pike or Luce, all
Carps are the better for age and bigncfs \ the
tongues of Carps are noted to be choice and
xroftly meat, cfpecially. to them that buy them :
but Gefner fays^ Carps have no tongue like other
ii(h, but a piece of fie(h-like BIh in their mouth
N 2 like
t8o STi&tf Complete ANGLEiti PartL
like to a tongue, and (hould be called a palate :
But it 13 certain it is choicely good, and that the
Carp is to be reckoned amongft thofe leather^
mouthed (ilh, which I told you have their teeth
in their throaty and for that reafon he is very fel-
dom loft by breaking his hold^ if your hook be
once (luck into his chaps.
I told you that Sir Francis Bacan thinks that
the Carp lives but ten years, but Janus Duira*
vius has writ a book of fifh and fifli-ponds^ in
which he fays, that Carps begin to fpawn at the
age of three years, and continue to do (o till
thirty : he fays alfo, that in the time of their
breeding, which is in fummer, when the fun bath
warmed both the earth and water, and fo apted
them alio for generation, that then three or four
male Carps will follow a female, and that then
fhe putting on a feeming coynefs, they force her
through weeds and flags, where (he lets fall her
eggs or fpawn, which fticks faft to the weeds,
and then they let fall their melt upon it, and fo
it becomes in a fhort time to be a living fifli ;
and as I told you, it is choUght the Carp does
this feveral months in the year, and moft believe
that moft Blh breed after this manner, except the
Eel : and it has been obferved, that when the
fpawner has weakened herfelf by jdoing that natu-
ral office, tbiat two or three meltei^ hive helped
her from oflf the weeds by bcartoghcr apon both
fides, and guarding her into the deep. And you
may note, that though this may feem a curiofity
not worth obferving, yet others have judged it
worth their time and cofts, to make glafs-hives,
and order thejtk in fuch a manner as to fee how
bees have bred and made their honey -combs, and
how
Chap. IX. The Complete Angler. iSi
bow chcjr have obeyed their king, and governed
their commonwealth. But it is thought that
all Carps are not bred by generation, but that
fome breed other ways, as fome Pikes do.
The phyficians makes the galls and ftones in
the heads of Carps to be very medicinal ; but
'tis not to be doubted, but that in liafy they make
great profit of the rpawn of Carps, by felling ic
CO the JewSt who make it into red caveer, the
Jnes not being by their law admitted to eat of
caveer made of the Sturgeon, that being a filh
that wants fcales, and, as may appear in Levit.
xi. by them reputed to be unclean.
Much more might be faid out of him, and
out of AriftetUy which Duhravitu often quotes
in his difcourfe of fifhes; but it might rather
perplex than fatisfy you, and therefore I fliall
rather chufe to direct you how to catch, than
fpcnd more time in difcourfing eitt^r of thp
nature or the breeding of thi$
.N 3
iH 5*^ip CoMPLET? Angler. Partl.^
or of any more circumftances concerning him ^
but yet I (hall remember you of wh^t I told you
before, that he is a very fubtil fi(h, and bard tq
be ctiught.
And my firft dircfflion is, that if you will fiftj
for a Carp, you muft put on a very large mea-
fure of patience, efpecially to fifh for a rivec
Garp ! I have known a very good iifher anglq
diligently four or fix hours in a day, for three be
four days together, for a river Carp, and not
have a bite : and you are to note, th^t in fomc
ponds, it is as hard to catch a Carp as in a river ^
tjiat is to fay, where they have ftore of feed, and
the water is of a clayijfh colour : but yoti are to
remember, that I have told yp'u there is no rule
without an exception, and therefore being pofleft
with that hope and patience which I wilh to all
fiffxers, efpecially to the Carp-angler, I (hall telll
you with what bait to fifh for hiip. But firft^
you are to know, that it mufi be either early or
late ; and let me tell you, that in hot weather,
for he will feldom bite in cold, you cannot be
too early or too late at it. And fome have been
fo curious as to fay, the tenth of Jffril is a fatal
day for Carps.
The Carp bites either at worms or at pafte,
and of worms I think the bluilh marfh or mea-
dow-worm is belt; but poffibjy another worm,
not too big, may do as well, and fo niay a green
gentle : and as for paftes, there are almost as
many forts as there are medicines for the tooth-
ache, butdoubtlefs fweet paftes are beft ; I mean,
paftes made with horfey or with fiigar t which,
that you may the better beguile this crafty fifh;
fhould be thrown into the pond or place iri
^'5 " .' "" * ' ■ ' ■ which
v^
^0\ipAX. The Complete Avcii^.. iffjr
which you fifli for him, fome hours or longer'
before you undertake your trial of (kill with the.
ajiglerod : and doubtlefs if it be thrown into
the water a day or two before, at feveral cimes
and in fmail pe)lets,.you are the likelier when yoii
fi(b for the Carp to obcaio your defired fport ; or
iq ^, large pond, to draw them to any certain
place, ^at they may the better ^d. with more^
hope be fiQied for, you are to throw intb it, in
f^me certain place, either grains or blood mixt
with cpw-duag or with bran ; or any garbage,
as chicken's guts or the like, and then fome of.
your fmall fweet pellets with which you purpofe
tp ^ngle : and thefe fmall pellets being a few of
ibtm alfQ thrown in as you are angling, will be^
tb^ better. . :
; And your pafte muft be thus made : take the^
l|eO^ of g rabbet or a cat cut fmall, and bean-flour^
Bfid if th^t may not be ca&ly got, get other flour,-
9nd then mi^ thefe together, and put to them
either fqgar or honey, which I think better, and .
thep beat thefe together in a mortar, or fome-
times work them in your hands, your hands being
very clean, and then make it into a baU, or
two, or three, as you like befl: for your ufe ; "
but you mult work or pound it fo long in the
mortar, as to make it fo tough as to hang upon
your hook without wafliing from it, yet i^ot too
hard ; or that you may the better keep it on your
hook, you may knead it with your pafle a little,
and not much, white or yellowish wool.
And if you would have this pafte keep all the
year for any other fi(h, then mix with it virgin^
wax and clarified honey, and work them together
N 4 witli
1B4 5*^ GoMPtETE AKGtERt Parti*
with your hands before the fire, then make theie
intp bali5, and they will Icecp all thp year.
And if you fifh for a Carp with gentles, theqr
put upon your hook a fmall piece of fcarlec
lilx>pt this hignefs Ip, it bejng foaked in, oc
anointed with oil ot peter, called by fpmc oil of
the rock; and if your gentles be put t^o qx three
days before, into a box ov horn anointed wit^
honey, and fo put upon your hook as to preferve
Jthem to be living, ' you are as like to kill this
crafty fifih this way as any other ; but ftill as you
«re fiihing chew a little white or brpwh bread in
^our mQuth, and caft it into the pond about the
place where your float fwims. Other baits there
be, but thefe with diligence and patient watch-^
fulnefs, will do it better than any that I have
ever pradtifed or heard of : and yet I iball tell
you, that the crumbs of white bread and honey
made into a pafte i$ a good bait for a Carp, and
you know it 'is more cafily made. And having
faid thu? much of the Carp % my next dil-
courfe
* Th^lia^nt$ of river Carp are, in the winter- months,
the broadeft and ino(l quiet parts of the river ; but in fammer^*
they lie in deep holes, nooks, aiid reaches, near fome fconrj^
and under roots of trees, hollow banks, and, till they are
near rotting, amongft or near great beds of weeds, flags, {ffr.
Pond Carp cadnot, with propriety, be faid to have any
haunts, only it is to h^ noted, that they love a fat rich foil,
and never thrive i^ a co(d hungry water.
They Wedd tliree or four times a year, but their firft
(pawning-time is the beginning t)f May,
Baits for the Carp a^e all forts of earth and dunghill-
worms, flag- worms, gralhoppers, though not at top»
ox- brains, the pith of an ox's back-bone, green peafe.
^and red or black cherries, with the Hones taken btit.
^Qurfe (ball be of the Bream, which (hall not
prove fo tedious, and therefore I deGre the con*
tinuance of your attention.
Put firft I well tell you how to make this Carp^
diat is fo curious to be caught, fo curious adilh
of meat, as (hall make him worth all your la-
bour and patience ; apd though it is not without
fome trouble and charges, yet it will recompenfe
both.
Take a Carp, alive if pollible, fcour him, and
rub him clean with water and fait, but fcalehim
not I then open him, and put him with his blood
and his liver, which you muft fave when you
open him, into a fmall pot or ketde ; then take
fweet marjoram, time and parfley, of each half
a |)andful, a fprig of rofemary, and another of fa*
voiiry, bind them into two or three fmall bundles,
and put them to your Carp, with four or five
whole onions, twenty pickled oyfters, and three
anchovies. Then pour upon your Carp as
much claret wine as will only cover him, and
^^on your claret well with fait, cloves and mace»
and the rinds of oranges and lemons ; that done,
Fi(h widi ftroQg tackle, very near the bottom, and with
a fine grafs or jgut next the hook, and ofe a goofe-qoill
ildat. Never attempt to angle for the Carp in a boat, for
f1iey win not come near it.
It is faid iherti are many Carp in the TbamtSt weftward of
London^ and that about February they retire to the creeks in ,
that river ; in fbme of which, many have been taken with
an angle aibove two feet long. AvgUt^sfunGmif. 179.
Carp live the longeft oat of the water of any fifli. It is
a common practice in Hollandy and here too, to keep them
alive for three weeks or a month ; which is done by hang-
fng them in a cool place, with wet moG in a net, and teed*
in^ theih with bread and milk.
cover
lis y)&^ Comply t? Akcler. Parti)
cover yowr pot and fct it on a quick fire till it be
jufficiently boiled ; then take out the Carp and
lay it with the broth into the di(h» and poun
upon it a quarter of a pound of the beft frelh
biitter^ melted and beaten with half a dozen'
^oonfuls of the broth, the yolks of two or three
eggs, and feme of the herbs (hred ; garnifli your
- difl^ with leovons, and faferve it up, and mucb
good do you.
Dr. n
CHAP. X,
Obfcrvations of tie Bre a m, and DireSiiMS
to, catch him.
*
P I S C A T O R4
TH E Bream being at a full growth, is m
large and ftately fifh : he will breed both
, in rivers and ponds, but loves belt to
Kve in ponds, and where, if he likes the water
and air, be will grow not only to be very large^
but as fat as a hog : he is by Gefntr taken to be
more pleafant or fweet than wholfome ; this fi(b.
is long in growings but breeds exceedingly in a
water that pleafes him ; yea, in nuiny ponds fq
faft, as to over (lore them^ and ftarve the other
. He is very brpad with a forked tail, and his
fcales fet in excellent order ; he hath large eyes,
and a narrow fucking-^mouth •, hc^ hath two fers
of
Chap. 5^. f!6^ CdMStBTB ANCiEfe. isf
pf teeth, and a lozenge- like bone, a bone to
\\c\p his grinding. The melter is obfcrvcd to
have two large melts, and the fennale two large
bags of eggs or fpawn.
Gqfner reports, that in Poland^ a certain and
a: great number of large Breams were put into a
pond, which in the next following winter were
frozen up into one entire ice, and not one drop
of water remaining, nor one of thefe fiOi to be
found, though they were diligently fearched for;
and yet the next fpring when the ice was thawed,
and the weather warm, and freQi water got into
the pond, he affirms they all appeared again.
This Gefner afErms, and I quote my author,
becaufe it feems almoft as incredible as the refur-
reftion to an atheift. But it may win fome-
0Hng; 4ii .'point t)f believing it, to him that
confiders the breeding or renovation of the filk^
^orm, and of many infefls. And that is con-
fiderable which Sir Francis Bacon obferves in \nt
hiftory of life and death, fol. 20. that there be
fonre herbs that die and fpring every year, and
fome endure longer.
Bot tliough fome do not, yet the French cGietm
this fifti highly, and to that end have this proverb,
^* He that hath Breams in his pond is able to bid
" his friend welcome.** And it is noted, that
the bed part of a Bream is his belly and head.
Some fay, that Breams and Roaches will mix
their eggs and melt together, and fo there is in
many places a baftard bre<tl of Breams, that
never come to be either large or good, but very
numerous.
The baits good to catch this
Bream
188 J^ CqMptBTi Angi*5»* Parti*
are many. r. Pafte made of brown bread and
honey, gentles, or the brood of wafps that be
young, and then not unlike gentles, and Ihould
be hardened in an oven, or dried on a tile before
t5e fire to make them tough-, or there is at the
HODC of docks or flags, or ruQics in watery places,
a woroi not unlike a maggot, at which Tench
will bite freely. Or he will bite at a grafliopper
with his legs nipt off* in June and 7"^) ^'^ aE
feveral Sies under water, which may be found on
flags that grow near to the wacer-fide. I doubt-
not but that there be many-other tnits that are
good, but I will turn them all into this mofl; -
excellent one, either for a Carp or Bream, in any-
river or mere : it was given to me by a moft
honeft and excellent angler, and hoping you
will prove both, I will impart it to you.
I. Let your bait be as big a red-worm as you
can find, without a knot ^ get a pint or quart of
them
Chtip« X. ^i^ Complete Arolsr. 189^
them in an evening in garden-walks, or chalky
commons, after a Ihower of rain ^ and put chem
with clean mofs well waflied apd picked, and che
water fqueezed out of the mofs as dry as you caot
into an earthen pot or pipkin let dry, and change
che mofs frefli every three or four days for tfacce
weeks or a moYith together ; then your bait will
be at the beft, for it will i)^ clear and lively*
€. Having thus prepared your baits, g^yoar
tackling ready and fitted for this fport« Take
three long angling-rods, and as many and mope
iilk, or filk and hair lines, and as naany large
fwan or goofe-quill floats. Then take a piece of
lead made after this manner, and
fatten them to the low ends of your ^^^^^
lines. Then faften your link-hook al- ^^^^m
fo to the lead, and let there be about
a foot or ten inches between the lead and the
Jiook ; but be fure the lead be heavy enough to
fink the float or quill a little under the water,
and not the quill to bear up the lead, for the lead
muft lie on the ground. Note, that your link
next the hook may be fmaller than the reft of
your line, if you dare adventure, for fear of taking
the Pike or Pearch, who will aflTuredly vifit your
hooks till they be taken out, as I will (hew yoa
afterwards, before either Carp or Bream will
come near to bite. Note alfo, that when the
worm is well baited, it will crawl up and down
as far as the lead will leave, which much enticeth
the fifli to bite without fufpicion.
3. Having thus prepared your baits, and fitted
your tackling, repair to the river, where you
have fecn them fwim in (kuWs or (hoals in the
iummer time in a hot afternoon, about three or
four
*9o The Complete AhgLz^*~ Part I:
foxxt of the dock, and watch their going forth
foi theif deep holes and returningi which you
•may well dil'cern, for they return about four of
the clocks mod of them ieeking food at the
tettom» yet one or two will lie on the top of the
5«ater» rolling and tumbling themfelves whilft
Ebe re^ are undep«ium at the bottom^ and ib you
ihaU perceive him to keep centin^l ; then mark
*where he plays mod and ftays longefi:^ which
commonly is in the broadeft and deepcft place
loi the river, and there^ or near thereabouts, a£
a clear boitom and a convenient ianding-place^
tak/^ one of your angles ready fitted as aforefaid^
and found the bottom, which (hould be about
eight or ten feet deep, two yards from the bank
is the bdl. Then confider with yourfcif whether
that water will rife or fall by the next morning,
liy reafon of any water-mills near, and according
10 your difcretioh take the depth of the place,
yhere yau mean after to caft your ground-bair,
and to fi(h, to half an inch ; that the lead lying
on or near the ground-bait, the ttfp of the -float
iDay only appear upright half an inch above the
water.
Thus you having found and fitted for the place
and depth thereof, then go home and prepare
your ground-bait, which is next to the fruit of
your labours, to be regarded.
The Ground-Bait,
You (hall take a peck, or a peck and a half,
according to the great nefs of the flream and
deepnefs of the water where you mean to angle,
of fweet grofs-ground barley-malt, and boil it in
akectie, one or two warms is enough *, then (train
it
Chap. Xw !r^ Complete AKCLtR, i^t
k through a bag into a tub^ the liquor whcrouf
^hach often done my horfe much good, and whcc
«thc bag and malt is near cold, take it down cc
the water-fide about eight or nine of the dock tn
the evening, and not before ; caft in two parts at
your ground* bait, fqueezed hard between both
your hands, it will fink prefently to the botiXMn,
and be fure it may reft in the very place wbet«
you mean to angle ; if the fitream run hard or
move a little, caft your malt in handfuls a little
die higher, upwards the ftream. You may be-
tween your hands clofe the msdt fo faft tn hand-
fuls, that the water will hardly part it with the
faU.
Your ground thus baited and tackling fitted,
leave your bag with the reft of your tackling and
gfound4>ait near die fporting-place all night,
and in the morning about throe or four of the
'cl^ck vifit the wacer-fide, but not too near, for
they have a cunning watchman, and are watch-
ful themfelves' too.
. Then gently take one of your three rods, and
4>ait your hook, cafting it over your ground-bait^
and gently and fecretly draw it to you till the
4ead refts about the middle of the ground-bait«
Then take a fecond rod and caft in about a
yard above, and your third a yard below the firft
rod, and (lay the rods in the ground, but go
yourfelf fo far from the water- fide, that you
perceive nothing but the top of the floats, which
you muft watch moft diligently ; then when you
have a bite, you fliall perceive the top of your
float to fink fuddenly into the water; yet never-
thclefs be not too hafty to run to your rods, until
you fee that the line- goes clear away, then creep
to
fji yie CDMj^tETE AKdLER. Parti;
m ibe water-fide, and give as much line as ^of-
6bly you can : if it be a good Carp or Breaoi^
diey will go to the farther fide of the river, tbefi
ftrike gently^ and hold your rod at a beat a little
while; but if you both pull together you are
fure to lofe your game, for either your line or
Jiook, or hold will break ; and after you have
overcome them, they will make noble fport, and
are very (hy to be landed. The Carp is far
ftronger and more mettlefome than the Bream.
Much more is to be obferved in this kind of
fiih and filhing, but it la far fitter for experience
and difcourfe than paper. Only this much id
necefliary for you to know, and to be mindful
ind careful of, that if the Pike or Pearch do
breed in that river, they will be fure to bite firl^
and muft firft be taken. And for the moft part
they are very large, and will repali^to your
ground-bait, not that they will eat of % but
will feed and fport themietves amongft the young
fry that gather about and hover over the bait.
The way to difcem the Pike and to take him^
if you mtftruft your Bream hook, for I hav6
taken a Pike a yard k)n^ feveral times at iisy
Bream hooks, and fometimes he hatb had fbe
luck to (hare my line, miay be thus :
Take a fmall Bleak, or Roach^ or Gudgeon^
and bait Tt, and fet it alive among your rods twa
feet deep from the cork> with a little red-worm
on the point of the hook ; then take a few
crumbs of white bread, or fome of the ground-
bait, and fprinkle it gently amongft your rodsv
If Mr. Pike be there, then the little fifii wil{
flcip out of the water at his appearance, but the
ltve*ibt'bait is fure to be taken.
Thus
Thus continue your fport from four iri the
morning tilt eighty arid if it be a gloomy windy
day, they will bite all d^y loHg. But this is too
long to ftand to your rods at otit place, iind it will
fpoil your evening-fport that day, which is this.
About four Qf the clock in the stfternodri repair
to your baited-place, and as fpon as you come to
the water fide, caft in one half of the reft of
your ground bait, and ftand off: then whilft the
fiih are gathering together,, for there they will
moft certainly come for their fupper, you may
take a pipe of tobacco, and then in with your
three rods as in the morning : You will find ex*
cellent (port that evening till eight of the clcick ;
then caft in the fefidue of your ground- bait, and
next morning by fgrui: pf the clock vifit them
again for four hours, which is'' the beft fpdrt of
all; and after that, let them. /eft till yqu §Dd
your friends have a mind to more fport. . :l
Froni St. JiiMMj's-tide until BarlbolomewtiAt
is the beft \ when they have had alltheiVmmer'^
food, they are the fatteft* . ' \;
Obferve laftly, that after three or four c(ay&
filhing together, your game will be very Oxf ana
wary« and you (hall hardly get abave a bite o^
two at a baiting ; then your only way is todefift
from your fport about twqr or tht^ev.days, artdua
the nnpean time^ on the ptace you late bilatted, ail4
dgatnf intend to^ bait, you (hall take a turf of
green, but jhort grafs, as big or bigger than a .
found trencher ; to the top of thia turf, pn the
greens (ide,^ you- (hall with a ntedle and green
thread fatten one by one as-many little rcd-wdrms
is will near cover a!f the turf: then takd a
rounid' board' ox. trencher, make ^ hole in the
O middle
194 S%r C»KFi.fTi AHCLrR. ,TmL
middle thereof, and through the furl* placed on
the board or trencher, with d^ ftring or cord n
long as h fiitingt tied la a pQ)e> kit ilt dawn tQ i ho
bottom of the water, for the 6^ to feed upon
without difturbance aboMC two eir three days i
and/ afcei that you have diww* k VH$if^ yoa ooay
fatl to, and eii^ yonr loriikcr rucreatien \ :
& At
' ' *■■■ I > ' 1 . J . ' . . . ■ 'v .«i 'i
C ^ A P: XI.
O^iMfkut rf the Ts N c IT, and Aiom
how ta an^'Jifr' BtHtf
r-
TH^B Tench, the phyficran 6f fiftesv is
obferved tp Io¥c pond^ better than rivers^
and to lore pits better than either v vei
Camden oblerves, there is a river ithDor/etfiiri
aba( abounds with Tenches, but doubilefs the^
fecirc to the nnoft deep and quiet phees in ir.
" Tim SUti hath very large fins, very fmal) and
Inooth fcaksy a red circle about his eyes, wMcb
'^.Thc katfirtf ef Ae Bretn, a Uk wli^ irhe aagle#
Iddom meecs^fritliv ara the dec pdl and bfi^drft p9it». Qf
mntlc foft aieatntt with 6ukdy drnjey bottams, aod the
orQadaft aiiri lapft qoiet places of poaqt^ «»4 where there
arc weeds.
Thejr i|Paw« Aout thebegtimiiig^f ^^; alkde befer#
whkh tiaie thej arebrftin ftafoji^ thoi^ fqRir tUnk than
The baits for the Breaai arqf, red-worniSj, j[%«U lob, or
mar(h-worms» gentles, aiid graflioppers.
Ir gcacfair they are to be fifiied for as Carp.
I
. / .f I
'«rel% arid of a gold colour, ancl from either
Utiglt of his thouth thert hangs down i little
barb J in etciy Tench's hirad there are two little
ftofits,: which foitigh phyficiiin^ make great ufe
of r t>m lie ii dot tort^fnended fef iF^offeme itieft^
thckigfif thtit be vert milich ufe made ot them
fbt outwktd ^piieafiorii. Rjmlty/as Oji, TKitt
at bis. being ^t. Rathi^ he faw a ^itkt tiitt dbtie
by appWng^ a Tench to the feet of a very flck
m^. This he ftys, was done after an unufoal
irtahner f)jr fccftaih 5^^^. And it is obfcrved>
that m^tiy of thofe people have many fecrets
yetunknowri ttiChriftians^'fecreh that have never
yet becifl ^if tten, but havte been fiiice the days di
their Sokmdn^ who knew tfie nature of aH thinesi
even from the cedar to the flirub, delivered by
tradition from the father to the fon, and fo froni
E:nerationto generation withoiut writing; or un-
fs it were ca^ally, without the leaft communi-
cating them to any other nation or tribe : for to
do that, they account a profanation. And yet
it is thougiit that they^ or Ibme (pmt worfe thari
they, firft told us, that lice fwallowed alivc were
a certait|l4S^l'^^ fo? ^.hc yeUqw^-^ay i^ifce* This;
9nd many other medicines, were difcovered by
them or by revelation y for^ doubtlefs, we attained
them not by-ftudy.
Well, this Slh, befides his eating, is very ufefut
both dead and alive forthe good pf mankind. Ftit
1 will meddle no more with that, my honeft humblci
sat teaclies^ w> ftidh bt>Mnefe ; there we tba
iri^y fbbfim meddl«l% !^ ^hyfi«k and divinity,^
4lMt thihk theMfi^v^e^ fit tQ meddle wkh hkideA
leetet^, artd fo bi%ig'deft#u Aiorf to their foHowers.
-^k^ ril not' meddle w*th thfcittv aiiy farther
O 2 than
1^6 The Complete Aholer^/; jp^tit^
than to wHh them wHer i and iball tell .younctf,
for, I hope I may be fo bold, th« the Tencliii
the physician of fifhes, for tb? Pike elpeciallyV
and that the Pike, being either lick, or tuirt, i»
cured by the touch of the Tench. And ic is ob-
lerredj that the cypaDt Pike .will aot be a wo^
to his phyficisD, but forbears to devour , bin>
though he be never fo hungry. .
This hfli, that carries anatunalbadTana iahinr
to cure both himfelf and others, loves yet tofee^
in very foul water, and amongft weeds. . And
yet I am fuce he eats plcalanlly, apd, doubdefs^
you will think it too, ]£ you tafte him. And I
fliall therefore proceed to give you feme fcw^
and but a few, dtrc£tioBs bow to- catch this.
of which 1 have: g^ivcn youtBefe obferrajtionsL-;,
He will bite at a pafu ipad^ of brawn br^ftd
andhoney, oratamarfb-wOFm, oralob wpr|]>>
he inclines very much toany pafte with whici^
tar is mixc,, and he wiU. bite alfo at a fmajlof ■
WOEID^
Chair. XII." Tie Covivvtrz Angier. 197
worm^ with his head nipped oflT, and a cod-
wprpi pujt on the hodk before ihat worm ; and I
doubt not *but that lie will alfo in the three hoc.
months, for on the nine colder be fiirs not much,
bite at a flag-woroi, or at a green gende, buc
can poritiveTy fay no more of the Tench, he being
^ fi(h that I have hoc often angled for * ^ but I
^ifli my honeft fcholar may, and be tvtx fortu*
date when he fiihes.
CHAP. XIL
Oi^rvatmsoftbeFEj^RCH, and DireSioM
Sow tojijhjbr Aim.
PiSrATOIt.
THE Pearch is a very good, and a very
bold-biting fifh ; he is one of the fifties
of prey, thdt, like the Pike and Trout,
carries his teeth in bis mouth; which is very
large, and he* dare venture to kill and devour
fevj&xal oxher kinds * of B(h : he has a hook*d
or
"T The haunts of the Tench aie nearly tlie fame with thofe
<of xhe Carp j^ ihey delight more in ponds than in rivers, aad
Heuiider weeds, near fluices, and at pond heads.'
i Hey {pawn about the beginning otjufy, and are beftin
ieafoQ fron[> the beginning of Sepiemher to thje endof A&[y .•
i3iey vrill bite all the hot mgnths, biit^re bed taken in «4!if'/7
and May. '
There^are no better4>aitis for this fifh than a mididle-fize^
lob-'worni, or red>wormy well fcoured, a geatlei aj^oang
O i wafp-
19? TifeCoMPHW Anii^i|S|i* Ffltff
or hpg b^ck9 which i$ arrned wttb (b^rp ^nd fii^
^riftles, and ii\ his jkin afined or CQverj^^pyier
with thick, drVf hard fcilcs, and hath^>!ht(q|,
ff w othpr fi(b h^ye, tf 6 fip^ pp Jiis back ; ti5? i$
fo ^old» that he will jnya^Vopeqf h]s own l^ihd*
which the Pik« wil] npV do (q Y^'^^^'^sV* ^^
you may thcfefoie eafily b^llt^e hiia^tp b^^^^^
- biter.
The Pcarch is of great eflbcCQii in Tial^p. 6ith
jOJrovahduSy and efpbcially tne' leaft are ther;^
efteemed a dainty diib. 4^^^ Cefner prefers th(^
fearch and Pike above the Trout, b? apyfrefli-
water fiih ; he fays the Germans have this pro*
verb, " More wpoUbmc ih^n i Pwch of RUfie:*^
and- he favs (he Riyer-Pearch is To whcdibm^,
^t f^yficians allow hini oo be eaten ii^ wouiide4
men, or by men in ifcvers, or ky women ih
cb lid-bed.
He fpawns but once a year, at)td is by (>hvficiafij
held very nutritive^' yet t>y inahy to be hard o\
digeftipn: they aHpd ^"^'^ V ^bp riyer P^
and in England^* by s RpudeUtmy ttian ptber
jparts, and have in their brain a ftpne which is ia
fbreign parts fold by apotheca|ries,* being tlKfp.
noted to be very medicuial aftainft the itonip m
the reins : jhefe be a part of the cof^menda4
tiops which fome philoiophiad brains have be*
^ wafpngrub bolledt or a aieen wprixi ^)iook from the booirbs
of trees:"' ■ . '^^^^ '* . ' ^ •" r • -» s
Ufe u ftxong grafs, or gut, and a goofe-qaill flaat| with-
out a cork, except in rivm» inhere the cork !i dwaVs to
be p^fcferred: ■ • ' '" ' "" * *•" ', " ' . ' ' "
Fifl) very i^ear thegronnd ; apd if yott bait with eentles,
row ill a few at the takiiig every fiih ; which wul <
throw ih a few at the takihg every fiih ; which wul draw
theix) to your hook, aod iteep them together*
ftowed
C!up. XII. STZtf C0MF1.BTS ANteiit. 199:
(lowed upot! the freih-WMer Feittb, y«t ihtf
commend th^ Senl^enrcfai wbkb i^ knowh ^
iMiving but one fin on im teck, dF which they
fi^9 we £^i^ ft* but a £e#^ ctt 6fc « tkuck
better BAt.
' The Fedrck gityw^ l<»w(y^ -yet wil! gtaw^ tA f
have been credibly informed, 10 be alnnoft cwA
feet long -, for an honeft iBformei* udd n1e» fueh
a one was not long fince taken bjr Sir Abraham
WiOiams^ a gendeman of worth and a brother
of the angle, that yet lives, and 1 wifr he may :
chis was a deep-bocUed fill, and doubtlefr durft
have devoured a Pike ci half his own leiigth :
for I have toid jrou, be is a bold fi(b, fiich a one
as^ l^t for extreoie hunMr, the Pike will not
devour ; for to afliig^t the Pike and iave himfel^
die Pearch will fct iip his fins, much like as a
turkey- code will fomctimes £;t up his tait
But, my feholar, the Peaich is not only valiant
to defend himfelf, but he is, as I find, a bold*
biting fifli, yet he will not bite at all feafons of
the year ; he is very abftemious in winter, yet
will bite then in the midft of the day, if it be
warm : and note, that ail fifli bite beS: about
die ttyfdft of « Wj#iii citey iai wint^ \ and be hath
fteeif obfert eii by fom^s ^ot ufuaUy to bite till'
idsit fiautty^r^y^tree budsi that is to lay^ till ex<>
ttwS€ froftdi tie paift the fpriixg; for when the
mttUMity-tiw blo£bm«^ many gardners obfervd
Aieir for «^afti fnvit to be paft ehe danger of f rdfts^
and feme have made the like obfervacioo of th0
Pessrreh'i biting^
Bm bite thePtisyrch wiH, Md that irery boM-
\j : ind as one has wittily obf^rved, tf there btf
PMxjkVf or forty in a bote, they niay be at ontf
i O 4 (landing
ao» fir CoupiBTE Angler. Bart I.
ftandingall catched one after another i %h,ty ber
ing, as he .fays^ tike the wicHed of thf; wotid,
not afraid} though their fellows and companioiui
perifh in -their fight. .And you may otjfprvc,
that they are not like the folitary Pike,, but love;
to vcompany.OKf janothcr, and march together
in troops. ;. -
. And the baits for this bold fifli
Pearchi
arc oot many ; I mean, be vill bite «s well at
fome or at any of thefe three, . as at any> oi; all
others whalfoever: a worm, a. minnow, -or A
little frog, of which you may find many in hay-
time ; and of worms, the dunghill-^iorm, called a
brandling, I take to be belt, being Well fcoured
in mofs or fennel ; or he will bite M ^ worin -
that lies under cow-dung, with a blueifb head>
And if you rov6 for a Pearch with a minnow,
then it is beft to be alive, you flicking your hook
through his back-fioj or a minnow with the
... hook.
ChaptXII. Tbe Complete Akgler. 2or
hook in his upper lip, and letting him fwim up
wd down about mid-water, or a litUe lower, and
you ftill keeping him to about that depth by a
^ork, which ought not to be a very little one :
and the like way you are to filh for the Pearch,
with a fmaU frog, your hook being faftened
through the Ikin of his leg, towards the upper
part of it : and laftly, I will give you but this
advice, that you give the Pearch time enough
when he bites, for there was fcarce ever any
angler that has given him too much. And now
1 think beft to re^l: myfelf, for I have almoft
jpent my fpirits with talking fo long.
Fen. Nay, good matter, one filh more, for
you fee it rains ftilL, and you know our angles
arc like money put to ufury 5 they may thrive,
j^hough we (it. ftill and do nothing but talk and
enjoy one another. Come, come, the^ other filh^
good matter. ' »^
Pffc. But fcholar, have you nothing to mix
with this difcourfe, which now grows both tedt*
ous and titefooie ? {hall I have nothing from ypu«
that feem to have both a ^ood memory and a
chearful fpiqt ? '
Fen. Yes, njafter, I will fpcak you a copy of
yerfes that vf^rt made by Dottor Donne; znd
made to Ihew the\ybrld that he could make fbfc
and fmooth verfes, when he thought fmoothnefi
worth his labour \ and I love them the better,
^ecaufe they allude to rivers, and filh and filhing«
They be thcfe :
Come live with me^ and be my hve^ ^
jfni we will feme new fleafures prove^
' • Of
Of g^idiH/ands^ n^ €nfial brcoks^
fViibJilken Unes^ mijuvtr hooks^
s
k. k ' •
« ^hef€ 4f>ill the river wbtfp'ring nm,
[ fyamd iy $iy ^^smort than tbefitn ;
Jnd ibere tbe enmnH'dJifif wiUfiay^
Begging tbemfihfs they m^ httraj^
When tbim wiU.filAm In ibat Uve baibf
Eacb^y f»bich ev^ry cbanml baib^
JAo^ aniroufy id tbtt wiUJwim^
Cladder-io cateb tbed ibM Sbou bim.
Jf tb&u^ td hefoften^ ie^ft hatb^
By fun $r nmn^ tbim daritnefi botb^
And if mine eye$ btroe kerue tofee^
I wed not their ligbt^ bofOir^ tbee.
Let Others freeze with anglhtg neJs^
y\Jni<ftt their legs mtbpeUs nndweeds^
. Or treaeVrouJfy poor fifl^ befet^
With ]^r angling fn^res^ ar^windouy net.
Ltf eoarfe hold hands ^ from flinty neft^
\ ^be keddedffh in hanks omwre/i ;.
> Let curious traitors Jkave filk flies^
^4f ^ wit eh poor wandring fifijts eyes.
J* or tbee^ thou needji no fucb demt^
For thou ihyfelf art tbine own bait:
iThatfiJh that is not catcht therdy^
Is wiferfar^ alasj than I.
Pif Well rcmetpbered, honeft fcholar^ I
thank you for thcfc choict vcrfes, which I have
6 heard
Ivearalfbrmfsriy, but bad quite forgot^ till they
Were recoyerj^d'iyy.your happy m^oory. Well,
being I have tl6v9 refted myfelf a little, I will
mAt yoi( fo^ vequitali l^ tel|ifig yon ibm^
pbfenratioris of the Eel, lor it rai{is ftiU^ and
becaufe as ygti^ fay^ our angles are as money put
jto ufe, that thrives when we pl^y* therefore we'll
fit ftill and enjoy ourf<^ves ^ little longer under
^ia honeyfodiUfi^hedpe \
I <
^ r 41|^g)i^ei^» Hk^TroiiC* ddtght in ekv. fwift
Eivmt with pcbbley gravelly JboflXMnt, they 11:0.0601.1011114,
t fiiody dal^^ey foils ; t^ey Ipve a moderately deep water*
and fre^tH^ht holes by the ^des of, or near, little ftttaini»
and the hcUowt iiiider banks.
' The PeaccK^ 4>^wj|f al^^iK Ac begimiaf of Mmrth : di»
beft time of the year to angle ^r hunt is from the bcgianiBC-
of M^ till tluB end of T^'*^* y^t yoa may continoe to fijC
]^r ham tiYI the end of ^eptmbir ; he is bdl uken in cloudy
windy vceather, and, as fbme'Aiy, from ftven to ten uilM
f^picAOon, and from two to feven ia tho al^cmooii. . « "^
^ Other baits for the Pearc|i are» loacbjes» miUer*t*thfllBbi»
flicklebacks^ fmall lob, and inarfli, and red-worma* well.
jRx>ared« horfe- beans boiled, cad Sl^it, oak- worms, bobs
kndgemlef. " ' ' ' "^
*' Many of thcfe fi(h are uken in the njpt% abont Oxfirdi
and the author of ^be AngUt^j /ure Guide fays, he once iaw.
ithe fig.ni'fe of a Pe'ardh drawn with a pencil on the door of a
hoafe n^r that city, which was twenty-nine inches long,
and wa^ iaifbrmed it was the true dimehfion of a li?ing
Pearch; '^/. V# GW#. 155. '
^ The largift rearcli^ are taken with a minnow, booke4
with a good hold through the back-fin, or rather through
tba npper-lip; fbl* the rearch, by reafoii of the fignr^ of
his mouth, cahnot take the bait cro(i- wife, as the Pike will :
When yoa £ih thoit afe a Ui'ge cork^float, and lead your
line aoout nine inches from the bottom^ otherwife the min*
how will com^ to the top of the water. But. in the ordi^^
Jiary way of fiChing, Itt your bait hang within about fix
inches from thti ground* ^
CHAP.
is04 " Tl&^CoMPlETE^ Angler. PartX
pBJer*balidHs of the '^'e^uimd vt'beir fjirfbat
'^'~ -wani/cakst-andboie^toMfor tbio^,'.
liv - •. /„j ■"•■ ■> '•■•• ■ ''• •■ ••-■■••■ -'*
, PlSCA.TO*-. , .
IT IS agreed by moA tiitrr^khzt- At Eel is a
mod dainty fifh ; the Romans have efteemed
ri 'tier the ififi^M of their fczd'Si ^nctlbtfc^tW
<fcieeh tof pa^ate-pleaftire. But moft men differ'-
^bout tbeiV breeding : fome fay.^ey ji^rctd by
generation as other' iifh do, and others, chat
ttey. breed, ts fome worms do,- of mud ; as
Ats sAd nrice, and rnany other living creatures
^e bred in Egypif by the fun's heat, when ic
i^ifie^ 4lpop the overflowing of the river Niius :
or out of the putrcfa&ion of the earth, and
<}tvW* other Ways: • Thofe that deny them to
Hr^td by feneration as other fiih do, aik, if any
man ever faw an Eel to have a fpawn or mek ?
aik) they are anfwered, that they may be as cer-
Utin of their breeding as if they had ten (pawn :
ft>r:tttey jay, that they are certain that Eels have
air parts 6t for generation, like other fifh *, buc
l6 fmall as not to be eafily difccrned, by reafon
of their fatneis ;' but that difcerned they may,be,
a(id that the he and the fbe-Eel qiay be diftin-
guifhed by their fins« And Rondektius fays, he
has feen Eels cling- together like dew-worms.
'* That fi (hes arc furnifhed with parts fit for generarioa
camnot be doubted, fince it is1a common praAice to cailrate
them.. Sec the method of doing it In Phih/. TranJ. Vol.
XLVIll. Part II. for the year 173-^. Psgc 870.
An4
: And Qthcn fay, ithat Eels grbwing old, breed
other Hicls out of tbie corn^tioii o? their own
age, whH:h Sir Francis Bac»n fays, 'exceeds noe
•tto yeara. i^ind- others fay, that as peaib are
^made of glutiriotKs dew-drops, which a^ coiv
,clq>^ ^]theAii\Vh«ac in thole countries, fo gels
aif: bt^d jof.-i-ft |>artik:ulaff !dcw falling in. the
-mODihs of M^QiT Jane on . the- banks of fome
paf ticulj>,T ponds V rtveFs, adapted by,na£ure for
that end, which in a' few days are by the fun'k
j^^ );urae4 ifltaEflls ; aod ibnc of the ancients
^ye called tjie Eels-that are tbua brcd^ the oS
fpiing of Jim- I have ieen in the beginning of
^/(^, ifl^^-Fiyrr not far iTom.Canttrhej, fomc
|urtt of ;ic.covercd ovcf with young £eb.'»bout
chC'thick-Bcft af.a ftrawi and tbefe £elftidid lie
on the top of :tliat watcr> as thick as jonotes are
iaid toibc IB the fun: and I have hfcarUiche like
j9f, 9|:^r rivers, as natndy the ^nwrff, wheie they
> fu-e cal)^,yelvers, -and in ft pond -6ii mere near
}SBi<^t4^or4Jb^re, where abo&ofetitimeinfum*
roer, fuch fmaU Eets. abound lb much, that
^T^ny of the poorer fort of .people that inhabit
near to it, take fuch Eels out of cbis mere with
(i^yes or j|ytec>>;aj»dfnake a-kindof Eel^cake.of
it^piT^ an)d^?at>,tt ■ like. 8:e bread. AaA Gefnat
9f 9B1^ v<nei^^){ Be^ * (0 hy-, diat miSt^laid
there is,«9iQflF^<$»tlFd £^, .-by.r^fbn ctf tbdii»
* Tbenioft univeir>l fchQl^rof his time;, he wi*b«ni
and brefTyiiaer St. Jthitoi Btvtrlf.
iliaj tijc firU. invited Ifan tolfiiJiw;
ever UlrK^but ef bicceU. tie wu
', ud reiDar^ble.fof a moft {Wee£
!.n : h« died iii 7st> a>i<Uie4 btine4|^
[nake"elgtit valamei in fofio.' Se&
Ui lift in the Shgr. Bnla«n.
numerable
ao6 ?& CowpitTt i|i/^iEiti -"^^PiWl*
numerable number of Eels that breed itt k. - But
that Eeis may be bred as feme worms, and fome
khid of bees and wafps are; eilberc^ dew, or
out of the corruption of the eai<i)H fe#Ms to' be
oaadc probable bjrthe bamacsks aM ^oung gos-
lings bred by the fun*s beat^ add'tbe^foctifh
planks of an: okl fliip, and hatched bf tree^^
both vhtch are relatra far tnitbi by^ iBHtrids
and Loid^ and alfo by our laamed^iiM^^'md
laborious Gerhard in his HtrM. t
It » faid by Randd^ms^ that thbfe Eels iStait
ace bred in rivers tba rdafte fo^ or be AMref'f6
the fea, oever it turn to the fitefh wateri^y as '11^
Salnaon ckies always defire td do, 'wbdn^hey hj^
once tafted the >iak water ^ and I do the mote
eafily 'believe tfais^ becMfe I am ci^iiin;^ ^fat
powdered beef isa OKiil: ei0celtent bait to cateh(aili
Eel: and though ^xr Fronds B«foti^^}X kl^
the Eel's life t& be but teft ytar$^ yet hHy m hit
biftory of: Kfe^and deaths mentions a Lamt>?ey
bekmging td the Rctnan anperoF to be tAMt
came, aiid fo kept for almoft threcfeore years i
and that fiscb ufeful and pteafiuit obfervationi
were made «! this Lamprey, diat Oaffiutht
prater, wfan kent her« hMnenicd her <fesftR. And
we read tti^odtor A'^/bm^A ^iHcti^fim W^
ieen tovweep^ ar the death of a Liifttptsa ta&^
had kept long, and loved extie<idihj|if^.
^ Tbe sQtbor, page 1 37» htt ctwd IMbl P/Sr«^ aa inflM^r
which the tendern^fs of her ttx might perhapi es^trife^st
the fagsact ty aiid docfbleiicft of tliefe creatures f<^nK^fs^iiitt*r
detAr], thait tbe Weaktic& of fach tneaas CrMg^utnnitMkMt
/ms^ ia bccontinj^ lAoiirflfn f^ the ^e^b QHiii SvU .
• 4
It
Chap. XIIL Th CoHrtETS Angler. 2oy
It i& granted bf alU or moft tnen, that Ec)s^
ixr about fix tnontha^ that is ta £17, the fix cold
IDOnths of tbc year, ^r not up and down, neither
in the nvers, nor in the p€>ols io which thev
ufiialljr aiCy but gee into the foft earth or mud^
aod tlKce mafty of diem together bed themfelve^^
and live without feecfoig upon any tbinj^, as I
kanrs tobi you (bme {WaHoiwa have been obferved
to do in hollow trees for thefe fix cold months t
and this the Eel and fwallow do, as not being
able 130 endure wmter- weather : for Gefrnif quotes
Attfcrms to&y, that in the year 1 125, that year's
wtnter being more cold than ufual, Eek did by
nttwe'a mftindt get QUt of the water intoa Hack
of bay ta a meadow upon dry ground, and there
l^odded riiemfelves^ but yet at kft a ftoft ktl^d
^em* And Que Cswuht reiaaes, that in LaiMl
fiam^ filhes were digg'd out of the earth with
foadcs^ where no water was near to the place, I
&att £qr liale more of the Eel, but that, las-it is
obferved he is impatient of cold, fo it hath been
f>h(brved,. that in wami weather an Eel \M been
known to live five days out of the water.
And laiUy, let me tdl you, that Tome ouriooa
leaf ckers imo die natures of fifli, oMerye that
them be feveval forts or kinds oiF Eefe^ as the
filiRer Eely and green or greetiifli Eel^ widv which
ike river of f'iwjnff abounds, and tboie are
called grigs ; and a btackifh Eel, whoiV head is
moie fiat and Ugger than ordinary Eels \ and
sdfe an Eel wkofis fins are reddifh, and but fel*
dom taken ift diis nation, and yet taken fome*
ttm^; thefe feveral kinds of Eels are^ fay fome^
diverily bred, as namely, oat of the corruption
of the earth, and fome bydcw> and other ways,
as
4o8 The Complete A^cler. PartTi*
as I have faid to you : and yet it is affirmed by
fomc for certain, that vhc filler Eel is bred by
generation, but not by fpawning as other fi(h do^
but that her brood conie alive from her, being
then little live Eels no bigger nor longer than
a pin^ and I have had too many teftimooies of
this, to doubt the truth of it myfelf ; and if I
thought it needful I might prove it, but I think
it is needlefs.
And this Eel, of which I have faid fo much to
you, may be caught with divers kinds of baits :
as namely with powdered beef, with a lob or
garden- worm, with a minnow, orgutofahen^
chicken, or the guts of any fiib, or with almoft
any thing, for he is a greedy fifh : but the Eel
may be caught efpecially with a little, a very
Uictle lamprey, which fom'e call a pride, and may
in. the hot months be found many of them in
the river Thames^ and in many mud- heaps in
other rivers^ yea, aloiofk as ufually as one finds
worms in a dunghiil.
Next note, thac the Eel feldom ftirs in the day^
but then hides himfelf, and therefore he is ufu*
ally caught by night, with one of thefe baits of
which I have fpoken, and may be chea caught by
laying hooks, which you are tofaften co the bank
or twigs of a tree ; or by throwing a ftring cr6(s
the ftream with many hooks at it, and thole
baited with the afprefaid baits, and a clod, of
plummet, or done, thrown into the river with
this line, that fo you may in the morning find it
n^ar to fome fixt place, and thenc nke it up with
^ drag^hook or otiierwife Vs but rh^fe things art
indeed too common to be fpoken of, and an
hovJr*s fi(bing with any angler will teach yotj bet)-
- ter.
OHap;XIli. ^be Complets Angi.br. aoj^
ter, both forthefe and many other common things
in the practical part of angling, than a week'sl
difcourfc. I (hall therefore conclude this direc-
tion for taking the Eel, by telling you, that iri
a warm day in fummer, t have taken many sL
good Eel by fnigling, and have been much
pleafed with that fport.
And becaufe you that ^re but a young angler^
know not what fnigling is, I will now teach it to
you. You remember I told you that Eeb do not
ufually ftir in the day-time, for then they hide
themfelves under fome covert, or under boards
or planks about flood-gated, or wears, or mills^^ or
in holes in the river banks ; fp that you obferving
your time in a warm day, when thb water is
lowed, may take a ftrong fmall hook tied to a
ftrong line, or to a firing about a yard long, and
then into one of thefe holes, or between any
boards about a mill, or under any great (tone or
plank, or any place where you think an Eel
, may hide or flicker herfelf, you may, with the
help of a Ihort (lick put in your bait, but lei-
furely, and as far as you may conveniently : and
it is fcarce to be doubted, but that if there be an
Eel within the fight of it, the Eel will bite in^
ftahtly, and as certainly gorge it : and you need
not doubt to have him, if you pull him not out
of the hole too quickly, but pull him out by
degrees, for he lying folded double in his hole,
will with the hetp'of his tail break all, unlefs you
give him time to be wearied with pulling, and fq
get him out by degrees, not pulling too hard^
And to commute for your patient hearing this
long dire<5^ion, J fliall next t^ll you how to maktf
ibis
P Eel
aio r5«CoM»HTi Awgler; Fant
a moft excellent di(B of m«air.
Firft, wafh him in water and fait, tRen pull
off his fkin below his vent or navel, and noB
much further : having done that, take out hi»
guts as clean as you can, but wafh him not: then
give him three or four fcotches with a knife, and
then put into hiB belly and thofe fcotcbes, fweee
herbs, an anchovy, and a little nutmeg grated^
er cut very fmall, and your herbs and anchovies
mufi: alfo be cut very fmal), and mixt with good
butter and fait ; having done this, then pull bis
fkin over him all but his head, which you are to
cut off, to the end yoii may tic his fkin aboue
that part where his head grew, arid it muft be fo.
tied as to keep all his moilture within his Ikin t
and having done this, tie him with tape or pack-
thread to a fpit, and roaft him leifurely, and bade
him with water and fall till his fkin breaks, and
then with butter: and having roaftcdhimcnough,
let
^
I
Chap.Xlll. Ti&^CoMPLETl AN6t£R; 2U
let what was put into his belly, and what, he
drips, be his fauce« ;
S. F.
When 1 go to drefs af» Eel thus, I wifli he
were as long and big as that which was caught
in PA^borough river,/ in the year 1667,' which
was fli yard and- th^Wtjuarters long. If you will
n6tl>«SSve me, then go drid fee at one of the
cofFee-houfes in Kingjlreet in Wefiminjier.
Butoiow let me tell you, that chough the Eel
thus dreflf be not only excellent good, but more
harmlefs than any, other Way, yet it is certain,
that phyiicians account the Eel dangerous meat 1
I will advife you therefor^, as Solomon fays of
honey, Prov, xxv. "Haft thou found it, eat no
" more than isfufEcient, left thoufurfeit, for it
** is not good to eat much honey." And let
me add this, that the uncharitable Italian bids
us *' give Eels, and no wine to our enemies/*
And I will beg a little more of your attention
to tell you, th^iAldrovandus and divers phyficians
commend the Eel very much for medicine,
though not for meat. But let me tell you one
obfervation, that the Eel is never out of feafon,
as Trouts, and moft other filhes are at fet times^
at leait moft Eels are not *.
I
* The haunts of the Eel are weeds* under roots, flump»
of trees, holes, and clefts of the earth, both in, the banktf
and at the bottom, and in the plain mud ; wher^ they H^
with only their heads out, watching/or prey. They are alfo
found under great flones, old timber, about flood-gates,
wears, bridges, and old mills ; they delight in ftill waters,
and in thofe that are foul and muddy 3 though the fmaUer
£eU are 10 be met with in all forts of rivers and foils.
P a Although
2it Ti^^ Complete Angler. PartR
. I might here fpeak of many other fi(h wbofe
fliape and nature are much like the Eel, and
frequent both the fea.and frefti rivers •, as namely
the Lamprel, the Lamprey, and the Lampernc :
as
v*fc
AlthoQgh the manner in which Eels, and indeed all filhi are
generated is fufiiciently fettled, as appears by the fotegoing
notes, there yet remains a queftion undecided by nataralifis.
atid that 18, Whether theEel be a oviparous or a vi'uiparoui
liQi ? JFaltofi inclines to the latter opinion* The following
rtlationfrom Bowlkertnay go near to determine the queflion.
* * Being acquainted with an elderly woman, who had been
wife to a miller near fifty years, and much employed ia
dreiiing of Eels, I afked her whether flie had ever found
any fpawn or eggs in thofe Eels flie opened ? (he faid, ihe
never had obferved any ; but thatihe had fometimes found
living Eels in them, about the bignefs of a fmall needle ;
and particularly, that ihe once took out ten or twelve, ana
put them upon the table, and found them to be alive ; "
which was confirmed to me by the reft of the family. The
time of the year when this happened was, as they inform-p
ed me, about a fortnight or three weeks after Mickoil'^
which makes me of opinion that they go down to
mas
the fea, or f^lt- water, to prepare themfelves for the work
of propagating and producing their young. To this I
mull add another obfirryation of the fame nature, that was
made by a gentleman of fortune not far from Ludlow^
and in the commiilion of tlie peace for the county of Sa^-
/o^rwho, going to vifit a gentleman, his friend, was
(hewn avery fine large Eel, that was going to be dreflfedy
about whofe (ides and belly he obferved a parcel of little
creeping things, which at firll made him fufped it had
been kept too long ; but, upon nearer infpe^on, they
were found to be perfedt little Eels, or Elvers. Upon
this it was immediately opened in the fight of feveral
other Gentlemen, and, in the belly of it, they found a
lump about as big as a nutmeg; confiding of an infinite
nUmberof thofe litcte creatures, clofely wrapped up toge-
ther ; which, being put into a bafon of water, foon fepa-
rated, and fwam about the bafon . This he has often told
to "feveral Gentlemen of credit in his neighbourhood,
*^ fromt
Chap. XI 11. The Complete Angler, ttg
as alfpof the mighty Conger, taken often in the
Severn about Gloucefter ; and might alfo tell, in
what high cftcem many of them are for the cq-
riofity of their tafte \ but thcfe are not fo proper
*
•* from fomc of whom I firft received this account ; but I
** have lately had the fatsfa^tion of having it from his own
" mouthi and therefore I think this may ferve to pat the
/* matter out of all doubt, and may be fufficient to prove
'* that Eels are of the viviparous kind.''
Taking it for granted then that Eels do not fpawn, all
we have to fay in this place is, that though, as our autlior
tells us, they are never out of feafon, yet, as fome fay, they
are bell in winter, and worft in May : and it is to be noted
of Eels, that the longer they live the better they are. Jn^L
fure Guide. 164.
Of baits for the Eel, the beil are lob-werms, loach,
minnows, fmall pope or pearch with the fins cut off, pieces
of any fifli, cfpecially bleak, as being very lucid, with
which I have taken vtry large ones.
As the angling for Eds is no very pleafant amufement,
and is ajway attended with great trouble and tis^e rifque of
tackle, many, while they angle for other fifii, lay lines for
the Eel, which they tie to weeds, flags, l^c, with marks to
find them by ; or you may take a long packthread line, with
a leaden weight at the end, and hooks looped on at a yard
diftance from each other : faften one end to the flags, or on
the ihore, and throw the lead out, and let the line lie fome
time; and in this way you may probably take a Pike.
The river Kennet in Berk/hire^ the Siour in Dorfetjhlre^
Irk in Lancajhirei and Ankbam in Lincoln/hire t are famed
for producing excellent Eels ; the latter to io great a de-
gree, as to give rife to the following proverbial rhyme }
Ankham Eel, i^WWitham Pikep
In all England is uonejike*
But It is faid there are no Eels fuperior in goodnefs to
thofe taken in the head of the Neiv Hi ver Xitar IJlinzton ; an4
I myfelf have feen Eels caught there with a rod and line,
of a very large fi^«.
Eels, contrary to all other fifli, never fwim up, bn|p
always down the flream.
P 3 to
^14 7*i&^ Complete Ancler/ Parti.
to be talked of by roe, bccaufe they make us
anglers no fporc, therefore I will let them alone
as the Jews do, to whom they are forbidden by
their law.
And, fcholar, there is alfo a Flounder, a fea-
filh, which will wander very far into frelh rivers^
and there lofe himfclf, and dwell and thrive to a
hand's breadth, and almofl: twice fo long; a fi(h
without fcales, and moft excellent meat, and a
fiOi that affords much fport to the angler with
any fmall worm, but efpecially a little blueifh
worm, gotten out of mar(h-ground or meadows,
which fhould be well fcoured *•, but this, though
tt be moft excellent meat, yet it wants fcales, and
is, as I told you, therefore an abomination to the
'Jews.
But fcholar, there is a fifli that they in Lan-
caJhire'hosL^ very much of, called a Char, taken
there, and I think there only, in a mere called
ff^imnder^Mere ; a mere, fays Camden, that is the
largeft in this nation, being ten miles in length,
and fome fay as fmooth in the bottom as if ic
were paved with poliflied marble: this fi(h never
exceeds fifteen or fixteen inches in length, and
'tis fpotted like a Trout, and has fcarce a bone
• The taking Flounders with a rod and line, is a thing fo
accidental, that it is hardly worth the mention. The fame
may be faid of Smelts ; which, in the Thames, and other
great rivers, are caught with a bit of any /mall fiih, but
chiefly of their own fpecies. In the month o{ Auguft^ be-
tween thirty and forty years ago, fuch vaft quantities of.
iinelts came up the Thames^ that women, and even chil-
dren, became anglers for them ; and, as I have been told
by perfons who well remember it, in one day, between Z««-
4^n-bridge and Greeiim:ich, not fewer than two thoufand
i)erfons were thus employ'd.
I but
Chap. XIV. Tife CoMPXETE Angler, atg
but on the back : but this, though I do not
Icnow whether it make the angler fport^ yet I
^ould have you take notice of it, becaufe it is a
-rarity, and of fo high efteecn with perfons of
^reat note.
Nor would I have you ignorant of a rare fifh
called a Guiniad, of which I (hall tell you what
^amdtn and others fpeak. The river D^, which
Tuns hy Cbefler J fprings in Merionethjhire^ and
ras it runs toward G&^^ it runs through PembU^
Mere J which is a large water: and it is obfcrved,
that though the river Dee abounds with Salmon,
«nd Pembk Mere with the Guiniad, yet there is
4)ever any Salmon caught in the mere, nor a
<Ouiniad in the river. And now my next obfer-
vatioa .0iaUi be of the Barbel.
CHAP. XIV.
Oyeroathns of the B a R b e i , wkb Di*
re£Hons bow tofijhfor him.
Pi sc Aa:oiu
TH E Barbel is fo called, fays Gefnerj by
reafon of his barb or wattles at his mouth,
which are under his nofe or chaps. He
is one of thofe leather-mouthed fifties that I told
you o£^ that does very feldom break his hold if
•he be once hooked : but he isfo ftrong, that he
^will often break both rod and ilne^ if he proves
to be a big one.
P 4 ^ But
2i6 The CoMPLBTE Angler. Part I,
But the Barbel, thpugh-he be of a fine ihape
and looks big, yet he is noc accounted the beft
fifh to eat, neither for his wholfomenefs nor his^
tafte : but the male is reputed much better than
ithe female, whofe fpawn is very hurtful, as I
will prefently declare to you.
1 hey flock together like fheep, and are ^t
the worft in y^r/7, about which time they fpawn,
but quickly grow to be in feafon. He is able to
live in the ftrorigeft fwifts of the water, and ia •
* fummer they love fhe Ihallowcft and fharpefb
dreams ; and love to lufk under weeds, and to
feed on gravel againft a rifing ground, and will
root and dig in the fands with nis nofe like a hog^
and there neftshimfelf: yetfometimes he retires
to deep and fwift bridges, or flood-gates, or
wears, where he will nefthimfelf^mongft piles,
or ii) hollow places, add take fach'hold of mpls
or weeds, that be the water never fo fwift," it \^
not able to force him from the place that he con-
tends for. • This is his conftanc €wftom in toi-
ihcr, ^hen he and moft living crejiiurSs^^
themfetve^ in th^e fan \ but at the j|pp|g|L0 of
winter, then he fbrfakes the fwift llreams^a^nd
ihallow waters, and by degrees retires to thofe
parts of the river that are quiet and deeper ; in
which places, and I think about that time, he
fpawns, and as 1 have formerly told you, witli
the help of the melter, hides his fpawn or eggs
in holes, which they both dig in the gravel, and
then they mutually labour to cover it with the
fame fand, to prevent it from being deyourecj
jby other fifli.
There be fuch fl:ore of this fifli in the river
^anuk^ that Ronddctius fays, they n^ay in fome
places
Chap. XIV. The Complete Angler." aiy
places of it, and in fome months of the year, be
taken by thofe that dwell near to the river, with
(heir hands, eight or ten load at a time ; he fays,
they begin to be good in May, and that they
ceafe to be fo in Auguft; but it is found to be
otherwifc in this nation : but thus far we agree
with him, that the fpawn of a Barbel, if it be
not poifon, as he fays, yet that it is dangerous
meat, and efpecially in the month of May ; which
is fo certain, that Gefner and Gqfius declare, it
had an ill cfitdt upon them, even to the en-
jJangering of their lives *.
Thisfifh is of a fine caft and handfome fliap9,
jvith fmalt fcales, which are placed after a moft
ptfi^ and curious manner^
B AR.B E L
find
^ Thoagh the fpawn of tte Barbel ii known to be of a
poironous nature, yet it is often taketi by country people
taiedicinall)' ; who find it, at once, a moll powerful emetic
and cathartic. And, notwithUanding what is faid of the
whol-
ii8 INCOMPLETE Angler. Partly
and as I told you, may be rather faid not to be
ill, than to be good meat ; the Chub and he
have, I think, both lofl: part of their credit by
ill cookery, they being reputed the worft or
coarfeft of fre(h-water£fli : but the Barbel affords
W angler choice fport, being a lufty and a cun-
ning fifh ; fo lufty and cunning as to endanger
che breaking of the angler's line, by running
his head forcibly towards any covert, or hole, or
bank ; and then ftriking at the line, to break it
off with his tail, as is oblerved by Plutarch^ in
his book De indujlria animalium\ and alfo fo cun-
ning to nibble and fuck off your worm clofe to
|he hook, and yet avoid the letting the hook
come into his mouth.
The Barbel is alfo curious for his baits, that
is to fay, that they be clean and fweet ; and
have your worms well fcdured, and not kept
in four and mufty mofs, for he is a curious
feeder; but at a well-fcoured lob- worm, he
will bite a , boldly as at any bait, and efpeci-
ally, 4f a night or two before you fifli for him,
you ftiill bait the places where you intend to
fifti for him, with big worms cut into jpieces *j
and note, that none did ever fcver-bait the place^
nor fifli too early or too late for a Barbel. And
wholfomenefs of the flcfb, with fome conilitations it pro-
duces the ftme efFefts as the fpawn. About the month of"
September^ in the year 1754, a fervant )f mine, who had
eaten part of a Barbel, though, as I had cautioned hiin«
he abftained from the fpawn, was feized with fuch a violent
purging and vomiting, as had like to have cod him his life.
* Graves, whkh are the fedlooent of tallow melted for
the making of candles, cut into pieces, are an excelleniC
ground- bait for Barbel, Gudgeons, and many other fini, if
iChrown in the ni^ht before you angle.
the
]
Ghap. XIV. The Complete Angler. 219
the Barbel will bite alfo at gentles, which not
being too much fcoured, but green, are a choice
bait for him ; and fo is cheeTe, which is not to
be too hard, but kept a day or two in a wet
linnen cloth to make it tough : with this you
may alfo bait the water a day or two before you
fi(h for the Barbel, and be much the likelier to
catch (tore : and if the cheefe were laid in clari-
fied honey a (hort time before, as namely, an
hour or two, you are ftill the likelier to catch
fi(h : fome have direfted to cut the cheefe into
thin pieces, and toaft it, and then tie it on the
hook with fine filk : and fome advife to fifh for
the Barbel with (beep's tallow and foft, cheefe
beaten or worked into a pafte, and that it is
choicely good in Auguji^ and I believe it : but
doubtlefs the lob-worm well fcoured, and the
gentle not too much fcoured, and cheefe ordered
as I have direded, are baits enough, and I think
will ferve in any month ; though I (hall com*
mend any angler that tries conclufions, and is
induftrious to improve the art. And now, my
honeft fcholar, the long (hower and my tedious
difcourfe, are both ended together : and I (hall
give you but this obfervation, that when you
fifti for a Barbel, your rod and line be both long,
and of good ftrength -, for, as I told you, you
will find him a heavy and a dogged filh to be
dealt withal, yet he feldom or never breaks his
hold if he be once ftuckcn. And if you would
know more of fifliing for the Umber or Barbel,
get into favour with Doftor Sheldon *, whofe
Ikili
• Dr. Gilbert SheUon, warden of JII-'^ouIs college, chap-
lain to kin^C/^arles the firft, and, after the the rciftoration,
arch-
tio T'i&f CoMPirETE Angler. Part !•
(kill is above others ; and of that the poor that
dwell about hitn, have a comfortable expe-
rience *.
And now let^s go and fee what intereft the
Trouts will pay us, for letting our angle-rods lie
fo long and fo quietly in the water for their
ufe. Come, fcholar, which will you take up ?
Fen, Which you think fit, mafter.
Pifc. Why, you fhall take up that ; for I am
certain by viewing the line, it has a filh at it.
Look you, fcholar : well done. Come now,
take up the other too ; well, now you may tell
my brother Pefer at night, that you have caught
a leafli of Trouts this day. And now let's move
toward our lodging, and drink a draught of red-
cow's milk as we go, and give pretty Maudlin
and her honeft mother a brace of Trouts for
their fupper.
Ven. Mafter, I like your motion very well ;
and 1 think it is now about milking-time, and
yonder they be at it.
Pifc. God fpeed you, good woman, I thank
you both for our fongs laft night •, I and my
archbifliop of CanUrhury : he foanded the theatre at OxforJ^
died in 1677, and lies buried under a ilately monument at
Croydon in Surry,
* Of tlie haunts of the Barbel the author has fpoke
fufficiently.
Barbel fpawh about the middle of Jprilf and grow in fea-
fon about a month after.
Baits for Barbel, other than what Walton has loentioned,
are, the young brooB of wafps, hornets, and bumblebees.
In fifhiflg for him ufe a very ftrong rod, and a (ilk line
with a (hot and a bullet, as directed for the Trout : fomeuie
a cork-Hoat ; which if you do, be fure to iiih as clofeto the
tK)Ccom as pofilble, fo as the bait doe^ aot touch tjb£ ground.
com-
Chap. XIV, I'he Complete ANCiER. 22 A
companion have had fuch fortune a (ilhing this
day, that we refolve to give you and Mauilin a
brace of Trouts for fuppcr, and we will now
tafte a draught of your rcd-cow*s milk,
Milkw. Marry, and that you (hall with 4II
my heart, and I will be ftill your debtor when
you come this way : if you will but fpeak the
word, I will make you a good fyllabub of new
veijuice, and then you may fit down in a hay-
cock and eat it, and Maudlin fhall fit by and
fing you the good old fong of the Hunting in
Chevy Cbafe^ or fome other good ballad, for fhe
hath good (lore of them ; Maudlin^ my honefi:
A^udlin^ hath a notable memory, and (he thinks
nothing too good for you, becaufe you be fuch
honeft men.
Ven. We thank you, and intend once in a
month to call upon you again, and give you a
little warning, and fo good night : good night
Maudlin. And now, good matter, let's lofe no
time, but tell me fomew hat more of fifliing,
and if you plcafe, firft fomething of fi(hing for
a Gudgeon.
Pifc. 1 will, honeft fcholan
CHAP.
tti 7%^ Complete Angler. Parti;
CHAP. XV.
Obfervations oftheGvDGEOK, tbeRvFTW^
and tie Bleak, imtiimv ioj^Jh/or t&em.
PiSC ATOR,
ii, -
^
1
r"|' ^ H E Gudgeon is reputed a fifh of cxcej-
lent tafte, and to be very wholfomc : he
is of a fine (bape, of a filver colour, and
beautified with black fpots both on his body and
tail. He breeds twp or three times in the year,
and always in fummer. He is commended for
a fifh of excellent nourifhment : the Germans
call him Groundling, by reafon of his feeding
on the ground ; ^nd he there feafts himfelf in
iharp ftreams, and on the gravel. He and the
Barbel both feed fo, and do not hunt for flies
at any time, as moft other fiflies do : he is a^
excellent fifti to enter a young angler, being eafy
to be taken with a fmall red-worm, on or very
near to the ground. He is one of thofe leatherr
mouthed fifh that has his teeth in his throat,
and will hardly be loll: off from the hook if be
be once ftucken.
GuDC£OK«
Ctutp, XV. Th CoMFLETi Aiici.ik7 223
G IT I> G E O X
They be ufually fcattercd op and down every
river in ihe fliallows, in the heat of fummcr j
but in autumn, when the weeds begin to grow
four or rot, and the weather colder, then they
gather together, and get into the deeper parts of
ihe water ; and are to be filhed f6r there, with
your hook always touching the ground, if you
fifli for him with a floatj of -with a cork j'but
many will BQi for the Gudgeon by hand, with a
running-line upon the ground, without a cork,
as a Trout is ti(hed for ; and it is an excellent
way, if you have a gentle rod and as gentle a
hand*
There is alfo another fi(h called a Pope, and
by fome a Ruife, a filh that is not known to be
in fome rivers j he is much like the Peiarch for
' In filhing for Gudgeons have a rake, and every quar-
ter of an hour rake the bottoin of {he river, and the £fh
will fiocli iMthei in Ihoali.
bis
S24^ The CouPtiTE AHdlER; Partfj
his Ihape, and taken to be better than the
Fearch, but will not grow to be bigger than a
Gudgeon ; he is an excellent filh, no &{h that
fwtms is of a pleafanter tafte ; and he is alfo ex<
cellent to enter a young angler, for he is a greed]'
biter, and they will ufudly lie abundance of
them together, in one rcferved place, wliere the
water is deep and runs quiet^;' and an eafy
angler, if he has found where they He, may
catch forty or fifty, or fometimcs twice fo many,
at a Handing.
You mulx filh for him with a fmall red worm,
and if you bait the ground with earth, it is ex-
cellent.
There is alfo a
Blejvk
or frelh-water Sprat, a filh that is ever in mo'-
tion, and therefore called by fome the River-
fwallow ; for juft as you Ihall obferve the fwallow
to te moft evenings in fummerj ever in motion^
6 making
Chap* XV, . Tittf Complete Anglbji. x2]^
making (hort and quick turns when he flies, tp
catch flies in the air, by which he lives, fo does'
the bleak at the top of the water. Aufonius
would have him called Bleak from his whitifh
colour : his back is of a pleafanc fad or fea-wacet*
green, his belly white and (hining as the rnoun^
tain fnow;~ and doubtlefs, though he have the
fortune, which virtue has in poor people, to be
neglected, yet (he Bleak ought to bfe much valued^
though wq want Allamot fait, and the (kill that
the Italians have to turn them into anchovies^
This fi(h may be caught with a -Pater-nojler line,
that is, fix or eight very fmall hooks tied along
the line, one half a foot above the other : I have
feen five caught thus at one time, and the bait
has been gentles, than which none is better.
Or this B(h may be caught with a fine fmalt
artificial fly, which is to beof « very fad browa
colour, and very fmall, and the hook anfwer-
able. There is no better fport than whipping
for Bleaks in a boat, or on a bank in the fwitt
water in a fummer's evening, with a hazle top
about five or f^c feet long, and. a line twice the
length of the rod : I have :heard Sir Henry Wot'^
ton fay, tha.t there be niany that in Italy will
catch fwallows fo, or cfpecially martins *, tlm
bird-angler (landing on the top of a fkeeple to
do it, and with a line twice (o long as 1 have
fpoken of: and let me tell you, fcholar, that both
.martins and Bleaks be moft excellent meat.
And let me tell you, that I have known a
;h^rn tliat did conftantly frequent one place^
caught with a hook baited with a big minnow
* This is a common prafiice in EnglanJ vMot
ol" a fmall gudgeon. The line and hook muft
be ftrong, and tied to feme loofe ftafF, fa big
as (he cannot fly away wkh it, a^Une not exceed-
ibg tw6 yards.
CHAP, xvr,
ft •
Js tf notbingi w^ that wbkb h nothing
<
PrSCATOR.
MY purpofe was to gi^c you feme direct
tions concerning Roach and Dace, and
fbme other in^rior fiih, which make
the angler excellent Tport, for ydd'TSSjow there
is more pleafure in hunting the hare than in eat*
ing her: but I will forbear at this time to i^y
^ny more, becaufe you fee yonder come our bro*
ther l?et€r and honeftC^i^^: but I wittpromife
you, that as you and I fi(h, and walk tonnorrow
towards Londony if I have now forgotten any
thfng that I can then remtmber> I will not kee|^
it from you.
Well met, gtetfcmen, this is kcky that we,
meet fo iuft together at this very door. Come,
hoftcfs, where are you ? is fupper ready ? Come,,
firft give us drink, and be as quick as you can,,
for I believe we are all very hungry. Well, bro-
ther Peter and Coridon^ to you both ; come,
drink, and then tell me what luck of fiOi : we
two have caught but ten Trouts, of which my
. fcholar caugh^thrce ; look here's eight, and abracc
I we
Chap. XVL Tfe Conff i.j!t« ANotER. ^zy
We gave away : we have had a moil: picafant day
for fifliing and talking, and are returned home
both weary and hungry, and OQW mcfit and reft
will be pleafanc.
PeL And Coridon and I have not had an un-
pleafant day^ and yet I have caug|)( but five
Trouts ; for indeed we went to a good honeft
ale-houfe, and there we played at fhovel-board
half the day ) all the lime xh^x U. rained we were
there, and as merry as tbc^ that.fUhed> and I
am glad we are npw with a dry houfe oV'Or our
heads^ for hark bow it raiasand blows. ^ Come,
hoftefs, give us more ale, aud our fupper with
what hafte you may : and wb^/i we have fuppM»
let us have your fong, Pifcat^^ and the catch
that your fcholar promifed us, or elfe Coridom
will be dogged.
Pifc. Nay, I will not be worfe than my word,
you (hall not want my fong, and I hope I ihall
be pcrfeft in it.
Venat. And. I hope the like for my catch,
which I have ready too, and therefore let^s go
merrily to fupper, and then have a eentle touch
at finging and drinking *, but the lafi with mo-*
deration.
Cor. Come, now for your fong, for we have
fed heartily. Come, hoftefs, lay a few more
flicks on the fire, and now iing wnen you will.
Pifc. Well then, here's to y<ju, Coridon'^ and
now for my fong.
Ob the gallant fijher's Ufi^
' It is the heft of aw^
'TisfuU-^ft^furA Wi^afftrifif
And Uis beloved nrf maw^ ;
Q^z OtUr
22$ Tbe ciowptETE Anglbk. PartC
Other joys
Are but toy^t
Only ibis
Lcmful is^
For ourJkiS
Breeds no Ht^
But cofUent atd fleafure.
fy a morning up v)e rife^
JEre Aurora's pe^ngy
J)rink a cup to viafi our eyesy
Leave f be Jluggardjleepif^t
^enwego^
"To andfro^
With our knacks
At our hucks^ •
To fucb Jireams
As the Thames,
* If we have the kijiere.
When we pleafe to walk abroad
For our recreation^
In the fields is our abode y
Full of dek£lation :
fUfcre in a brook
fVitb a hooky
Or a lake J
Fifh we takey
There we fit^
For a bit J
Till we fifh entangle.
IV'c have gentles in a horny
We have pafit and wotfns t:Oy
Wt
«l ^* '
CliaptXVL Tie Complbte AuctER. 2^g
JVe CM watch both mght andmon^
Suffer rain andftorms too ::
None do here
Ufi to fijoear :
Oaths dofr4j
Fijhawaji
Wefitfiilk
jtnd watch our quill i
Fijbers nwji not wrangle.
If ths fm\s ^xc0ue heat
Make our bodies fwelter^
iTo on ofier hedge we get
For a friendly fhelter^
Where in a dike
PtoTch or Pike^
Mooch or Dace,
Jve do chafe ^
Bleak or Gudgeon
Without gru^ing^
We ar£ JiiU xontented.
Or we/ome^es pafs an hour
Unaer a gneen willow^
That defend lafrom afhower^
Making earth our jptllow,
TVhere %ve ptay
Think and pray.
Before death
Stops our breath:
Other joys
Are but toys.
And to be lamented.
J. ChalkhiM.
• 1.
Q^% Venat.
430 ^e CoMPj-ETE Anoi-er/ P Aft T#
Venat. Well fung^ matter •, this day's fortune
and pleafurc, and this night's Company artdfong^
do all make me more arid rflOfe in love with
angling. Gentlemen, ro'y mafter teft mc alone
for an hour this day, and- 1 verily ^ejievc he re-
tired himfdf from talking with* ale, that he
might be fo perfeiSb in thi3 fongv Was it not,
matter ?
Pifc. Yes indeed, for it is maiYy year^ ftnce I
learn'd it, and having forgotten a part of it, I
was forced to patch it up by the help oiP mine
own invention, who am not excellent at poetry,
as my part of the fong miay tettify r but ci that
I will (ay no more, Ifttt you fiiould think 1 mean
by difcommending it, to beg your commenda>-
tionsof it. And therefore, without replications,
let's hear your catch, fchQlar, which I hope will
be a good one, for you are both mufical, and
have a good fancy to boot.
Venat. Marry, and that you ftiall, and as freely
as I would have my honeft mafter tell me fome
more fecrets of fiih and fifhing as we walk and
ii(h towards London to-morrow. But matter,
jBrft let me tell ybu, that very hour which you
were abfent from me, I fat down under a wil-
Jow-tree by the water-fide, and conttdered what
you had told mc of the owner of that plcafant
meadow in which you then left me-, that Re had
a plentiful eftate, and not a heart to think fo;
that he had at this tixfie many law-fuits depend-
ing, $nd that they both damped his mirth, and
took up fo much of his time and thoughts, thaE
hehimlclf had not leifurfe to take the fweet^con-
tetit that J, lyho pretended no title to them, took
, -s in
in his fields *; for I could there fitquietly, and
lookiog on the watqr» fee feme fiihes fporc
;theinrelve8- in tKe irlver ftreams, odiera leaping
fit flies of feveral Ihapes and colours ; looking on
the hills, I could behold them ^tted with
woods and groves ; looking down the meadows,
<Could fee here a boy gathering liUies and lady-
fmocks^ and there a girl cropping culverkey4
and cowflips, all to make garlands fuitable to
ithis prefent month of May: thefe, and many
^tfaer field' flowers, fo perfumed the air, thatf
thought that very meadow, like that field In Sir
fcily^ of which Diodorus ^eaks, wher« xht per-
* Tfa«re is fo much ^t ftii4 ufeiitl moridity ioduded in
fthis rendment, that to let it pafs would be incxcafable in
tone who pretends to illaftrate the aathor's meaning, or dif«
j>Iay his excellencies. The precept which he evidently meant
to inculcate, ts a s^ry comrojtableone, vitt, that fome of the
^reateft pleafares human nature is capable of, lie open and in
common to the poor as well as the rich. It is not neceiTary
that a man ihoald have the *fee-fimple of all the land in
profpe^, iUom^WindJor terras, or Richm9nd hill, to^peicetve
the beauty of thoie two delightful fitnatioos,; nor can we
imagine thatdione but lord Mmrlituffn were ever delighted
in the view of his mod elegant villa at Chi/widk.
.But that excellent morahfl, 1)1. Francis iiitcbefittt\Att of
.GlaJgo*ui, has a parage to this ptirpofe, which is a nitich
better comment on tthis refledion than any ^.we can givt:
** As often," Jaythf, ^^ i«s the more important qlices of
'^* virtue allow any intervals, our time is agreeabl}^ and
-^^ honourably emplc^ed in hiftory, natural or civil, in
** geometry, aAronooiry, ,poetr^« ^painting, and muiick, or
M fttcb entertsainments as ingenious arts afford. And fome
of theiweeteft egjeiyments €it this fort require no pro-
perty, nor need we ever w^nt the objects . If familiarity
abates the.pleafure of the more obvious beauties of .na-
ture, their more exquifite inward ftruAures may eive
new delighu, and the ftoretof nature are inexhauaiide«"
'SttMsSjJhmc/M9ralPhil^pfy,Boqkl.ShsLf.7. - '
r€t
■ «C
•44
i^t ^e Complete Anglirv ' - Part L
fumes arlfing from the place, make all dogs tfiat
hunt in it to fall off, an^to lofe their hotteft
fcent. I fay, as I thus fat joying in my own
happy condition, and pitying this f^oor rich manf
that owned this and many other pleafant groves
dnd meadows about me, I did thankfully re^
piember what *my Saviour faid, that the meek
fojfefs the earth ; or rather, they enjoy what the
other poflefs and enjoy not-, for anglers and
meek qiiiet-fpirited men, are free from thofe
high, thofe reftlefs thoughts, which corrode the
fweets of life \ and they, and they only, can fay,
as the poet has happily expreft it ;
Hail bleft efidte of lowtinefs !
Happy enjoyments of fucb minds ^
jIs rich in felf'Confentednefs^
Can^ like the reeds in roughefi winds^
By yielding make that blow hut fmall^
At which proud oaks and cedars fall.
There came alfo into my mind at that time,
certain verfes in praife of a mean eftate and an
humble mind; they were written by Phineas
pktcbcr^ an excellent divine, and an excellent
angler, and the author of excellent Pifciatory
eclbgocs, in which you (hall fee the pidure of
this good man's mind^ and I wiik mine- to be
like ii; *,
No
* It would b^ great injoftice to tbe memory of this excel-
lent perfon, whofe naiiie is opw hardly knowQ^ to pafs him
by without notice. He was the Ton of Giles Fhcbfty do6lor
of laws, and amba&dor from queen Elizabeth to the duke
of Mu/ce*vy ; a fellow of King's college, 'Cambridgit. and
rbe author of a fineallegoriotl poemi incitled» T^e Purple
lfUm4i printed at Cambridgt^ with other of his poems^ in 4/0*
N 1633?
Chup.'KVL Itbe CbMPfcETE Akcl^r. .23J
No empty hopes j no courtfy fears bim fright ^
No begging wanis^ his middle fortune hite^
. Butfweet content exiles both mifery and fpte.
His
1655; from whence the paflage in the text» with a little
variation is taken. The reader will not be difpleafed with
a more entire quotation from that work, which, for its
elegant paftoral fimplicity, I coold wiih to fee equalled.
; La otbtrs trufi thiftas^ dan death andbelU
Search iiiher Inde, 'vaunt of their /cars and nvetmdf ;
Let others their dear breath {fiajj Jilence) fell
To fools t and (pvooln^ not rich) Jlr etch out their bounds*
By fpeiling tho/e that li've^ and luronging dead %
what thgy may drink in pearly and couch their head
\ f^f^t hutjUeplefs down ; in richf but refilefs bed*
Oh ! let them in their gold quaff dropfies donvn ;
V Ob I let them furfeits feaft injjl*vtr bright ,
While fugar hires the tafie the brain to drown^
4nd bribes of fauce corrupt falfe appetite^
tlis mafter*s reft, healthy heart , life^ foul to fell.
• Thus plenty, fulnefs, ficknefsy ring their knell:
Death iveds and beds them ; firft in grave^. and then in bell*
But, ah! let me^ under fome Kentiih hill.
Near rolling Med way, *mong my Jhepherd- peers.
With fearlefs merry make <i and piping ft ill
Securely pafs myfeiv and ftonxj pac^ d years :
Whileyet the great Auguftus t of our nation -[\K, JameS I.]
Shuts up old Janus in this long ceffation.
Strengthening our pleaftng eafe, and gives usfure vacation.
There may /, mafter of a little flock^
Feed my poor lambs, and often change their fare .•
My lonjtly mate Jhall tend my fparing flock.
And nurfe my little ones nvith pleaftng care ;
Whofe lo<ve and look fly all Jpeak their father plain :
Health he my feaft y heavn hope, content my guin^
ISp in my little houfe my lejfer heart ft?all reign.
The
t
fj4 ni COMPLBTE AhqIEr/ Ptft t^
His certain life^ that never can deceive Inm^
. Is full (f iboufand Jweets^ and rich content ;
^hefmoatb4eav*d beeches in the field receive bim^
JVith caolejl Jhaddy till noon-tide's heat be /pent :
His lifCi is neither toft in hoijProus feas^
Or the vexatious worlds or loft inJlotbfuleafe%
Pleased and full bleft be lives, when be his God
canpleafe.
His iedy more fafe than f oft ^ yields quiet Jleeps^
ffbile by bis fide bis faithful fpoufe bath place ^
His little fon^ into his bofom creep s^
The lively piSlure of bis father* sf^ce ;
His bumble houfe^ orpoorftate^ ne'er torment bim^
Lefs be could likcy tf lefs bis God had lent him^
And when if dies^ green turfjs do for a tomb content
him.
Gentlemen, thefe were a part of the thought^
that then poifei}: me, and I there made a con-
verfioa
^e Leach Jhalt yieltf a cool fafe canopy^
While dowon Ifity and cbaunt to tb* echoing luood :
^h ! finging might I li*ve^ andfinging die^
So hy fair Thames, orjtlver Medwzy^s^ood^
7'he djfingjkvant 'when years her temples pierce^
Jn mujick Jlrains breathes out her life and nterft ;
Andy fhaunting her oivn dirge, tides on her ivatry hearfe*
Purple Ifland, Canto \*
The innocence of angling, the -delightful fcenes wick
V'hich it is converfant, and its aflbckted pleafures of eafe,
retirement, and meditation, have been a motive to the intro-
dnftion of a new fpecies of eclogBe ; where fifhers are
aftors, as ihepherds are in the palioral. Mr. 4ddifiny it i«
true, has cenfured Sannaxarius for fuch an attempt ; but TX
is to l}e remembered, that his are Tea eclogues ; t|)e ver/
idea of which, is furely inconfifteut with the calmnefs and
^tranquillity of the pailural life : net to4ay, thatoyflers an4
cra^^-
V*rfik>n of a piece of ah cfld catcH,' and added
more to it> fiuing them to be fung by u$ ang-
^ Icrs :
CttLj'titti ate no very elegant or perfuafive bribes to the fa-
vour of t miftrefs. Bnt the ancient writers of paftoral,
fiioii, Theocritus J Mo/cbusy and others, included under that
fpedes the ttianners of h^rdfmen^ rtne-drefTers, and others ;
and why thofe of ftfbers are to be excluded, the legiflators
of paftoral would do well to inform us.
* Of thofe who have attempted this kind of poetry, the
^bove- mentioned Mr. Fletcher is one ; and in the fame vo»
hxme with the Purplk IJland are feveral poems, which ho
icalls Fifcattry Eclogues^ from whence the following paflage
i^extra^ed* *
^h I mmlil theu knenjt^fi hotv mvch k better nxjeri
To hide among the fimple fijher-fnjoains ;
• Ko Jbrieking c*voU no night 'Cro*aj lodgeth here ;
Nor is our fimfle plea/ure mis^d <witb pains :
Our /ports hepin tvith the beginning year,
Jn cahns to full the leaping fijh to land.
In roughs tojing, and dance along the golden fand.
' / htxvt a pipe, ivhich once thou lotfedfl «weUy
{fFas never pipe tk^t gave 4 better found)
Which oft to hear^ /air ThtxU/rom her cell,
Thetis, the queen of /eas, attended rounds.
With hundred nymphs^ and many po^^ers that dwell
In tb* ocean* s rocky 'walls, came up to hear,
. 4nd gave mi gi/ts, vihich fill for thee lie hoarded here*
Here, *withfweet baysy the lovely myrtles grotv,
fFhere th* ocean* s fair- cheeked maidens oft repair j
Here to my pipe they dancen on a rovo,
Nd other /wains may come to note they're fair :
Tet my Amyntas there voith mejhallgo.
Proteus him/elf pipes to his flocks hereby ^
^ Whom thoujhalt hear, ne'er feen by any jealous eye.
Eclogue I.
And befides Mr. Phineas Fletcher, a gentleman now livings
.ihc Reverend Mr. Alo/es Browne has obliged thd world with
Pifcacory
t3^ ^ Tic CoMPLBTB Akcler. Partly
krs : come, maftcr, you can (ing well, you muft
fin^ a part of it as it is in this paper \
Pet.
Pifcatory Eclogaes, which I would reconunend to all feveu
of poetry and angling ; and am much miilaken if the fifth
of them, intitled R€nock^% De/pair^ is not by far die beft
ijaitatioii of Miheuh Lj^Uas, that has ever yet appeared.
* The reader is not to Wbnder at this motion of Fiuutor%
Dor that Pifcator fo readily accepts it. At the dme when
/f^//0A wrote, and long before, mofick was fo generally well
underiioody that a man who had any voice or ear, was al^r
ways foppored to ht able to fing his part in a madrigal or
fong at fight< Peacham requires of his gentleman* only to
be able *' to fing his part fare, and at nie firft fight ; and,
** widial, to play the fame on the viol or lote.'* CosnfL
Gent, IQO* And Philomathes^ in M»rlef% excellent Imtrt^
duBUn to fraSical mufickt in fol. 1597* thus compliuns ;
{at the4>anqiiet of mailer S^fUfaiitlus} * ' Supper being ended*
** and mufick-books, according to cu(lQm» being brought to
** table, the millvetB of the honfe prefented me with ai^part,
*^ earnedly requefting me to fing. But when« after many
" excnfee, I protefied unfingnedW, that I could not* ev^ry
«* one began to wonder ; yea, iome whifpered to others,
^< demanding how I was brought up : fo that, upon ^ame
<* of mine ignorance, I go now to feek out mine old
*< friend, mafter Gnorimm^ tomake myfelf his fcholan**
Another circumftance, which fliews how generally mufick
was formerly known and pra&ifed in England^ occurred to
me upon the fight of an old book of enigmas ; to tMtty
one of which the author has prefixed a wooden cot of the
fobjed of the enigma : the folution to one of thefe, is a
barber, and the cut repreients a barber's fhop, in which
there is one peribn fitting in a chair, under the barber's
hands, while another, who is waiting for his turn, is play-
ing on the lute ; and on the fide of the fh«p hangs another
inllrnment, of the lute or cittern kind* The inference I
draw from hence is, that formerly a lute was confidered as
a necefiary part of the furniture of a barber's fiiop, ^nd
Bufwered the end of a news-paper, thenow common amuie«
ment of waiting cuflomers ; which it would never have
done, if mufick had not, as is above obfervedi bctn giPne-
rally known and prafti fed.
And
Fit. 1 mariy^ Sir, this is muGck indeed, this
has chear'd my heart, and made me to remember
fix verfes in praife of mufick, which I will fpeak
to you ioftantly*
' Mifick.
•
And the knowled^ of this h& will enable us to explain
and jaftify a paffiige in Ben Jphiifin** comedy of Ti^ Silent
fTwndn^ which none of his annotators feem to have under^
^ood. Morofit in aA III. fcene 5. of that play, after he
h4S difcovered that his fuppofed wife can talk, and that to
die pufpofe too, cries oat ofCuthtrd^ ** That cnrfed bar-
«< ber !— — *I have married his Citterth that's common to all
** men.'* B4r. Upton, in his notes on chat play, and Mr.
Wballiy after him, fappofe we (hould read Cifiirn^ i. e. the
common fink, the common fewer, ciftern, or receptacle :
or, Mr. UftOM fays, we may read Quern in a fenfe that
has no reladon to a barber's (hop. Bnt whether the circu nx-
fiance above-mentioned does not render any fuch conjectures
needlefs, the ingenious reader will determine.
Mr. Henry Lowes f who compofed the mufick to this fong,
was the Pnrcel of the age he lived in : Mr. Waller has ho-
noured him with a copy of verfes, infcribed *' To Mr.
^' Henry Leiwes^ who had then new fet a fong of mine, in
" the year 1635." And Milton has celebrated his merit in
an elegant fonnet, ** to Mr. H. Lwwes^ on his airs."
Milion was an excellent judge and performer of mudck, a
particular which, as it has been stxy fuperiicially men-
tioned by the many writers of his life, it may not be amifs
to enlarge On here. And firft, we are to know that his
afIe£(ioii to this art was, in fome fort hereditary ; for his
father was not only a lover, butacompoferof mufick : the
common melody, known by the name olYork pfalm -tunes,
which is played by moft country chimes, and half the nurfes
in this kingdom fing by way of lullaby, was of his compo-
£tion, as appears by Rawnfcnfth colle^ionof Pfalm-tunes,
^d other evidences* He alfb compofed many madrigals,
in four and five parts : fbme oif which are to be feen in Tkt
Triumfhs ofQriana^ a collection of madrigals, to five and
iix voices, compofed by divers authors, 4/0, Loni. i6or,
and in other collections. And laftly, it appears from the
MtMi Milton^ by his nephew Philips^ prefixed tg a tranfla*
Mnjkky mrackhtis rl^lmcky that J^e^tfi fekfr
WifbffKt a ttm^y exceiSng ekpuncs % - - '
With f»bat e^fe fmgbt tiy errors he kxctu^dY
Wert thou as truly lov'd as tVart^^^d^ • 'y[ t .
But though dull fouls negleS^ andfome reprove theif
I cannot hate thee^ \caufe the angels love thee.
Ven. And the repetkion of theic laft Verfes of
mufick, have called to my memory what Mr.
tlon of fome of his Jetters of flate^ printed in htmo^ 1^94^
chat Milton f the father^ codpofed an Jn nomine^ of forty
parts ; for which he was rewarded by a Peli/h prince^ to
lyhoin he prciented it, with a gold medal and chain. Ajsd
we arc alfo told, by the above-mentioned nephew o£ Milton,
that, when he was upon his travels, he coll|£leda cheil or
two of choice mufick-books of the beft mailers flourifhing 2X
that time in Italy ^ namely, Luca Marenzio^ Monteverdi^
Horatio Vecchi^ Cifa^ the prince of Venofa^ and others. '
It fhould feem tJ^at La^wes and Milton were well acquaint*
ed, for the former compofed the orig^inal mufick to the
mafque of Comtn ; and, at the exhibition of that perform*
ance at Ludlonu-caftUt aded the part of the attendant-
fpiric. The beil account extant of him, except that in the
Jitben» Oxon. is contained in Mr. Fentonh note on the poem
ef Mr » ff^aller, above-meniicued.
And, now I am upon this fubjedl, I will tell the reader a
fecret ; which is, that mufick was in its greateft perfedlion ia
Europe from about the middle of the fixteenth to the begin-
ning of the feventecnth ccijtuf y ; wlien, with a variety of
treble-inflruments, a vicioui talle was introduced, and bar--
mony received its mortal wpund. In this period flouriIhe4
Prenefiiniy the prince of Venofay and the feveral other auV
thors above-mentioned to have been colledled hy/MiIton^
and, to the immortal hoFiOor of this nation, our own Ta/lif
and Byrd\ and, in the more elegant kinds of compofition^
fpch as madrigals, canzone :s, ^c. Wilhye Weelhs ^ Sennet,
Morley^ Bate/on^ andpthers^ whofe works (liew dvep ikill
and fine invention. ,
Ed.
CSiap. XVI. The Complete Angler.^ ftj^
Ed. WalliTj a lover of the angle *, fays of love
and mufick.
0
Whilft lUften to tiy voice^
Chloris Lfeel nty heart decay \
^hdt powerful voke
Calls my fee ting foul away ;
Oh ! fiipprefs that mapckjbund^
JVhich deftroys without a wound.
* As the andior's concern for tke honour of angliBg, in*
dciced him to- enumerate AKh perfona of note as were Jover*
of that recreadon, the reader will allow me to add Mr. y^^^r
Gay^ to the many worthy and ingenioas men already named
on that occafion : any one who reads the iirft canto of his^
Ge&rgicky idtitled RMral Sports^ and obiertres how beauti*
fully and accurately he treats the fubjeft of ily-fiihin?,
would conclude the author a proficient: but that it was hi»
chief amufement« I have been afTured, by a verv intimate
ftiend of mine, who has frequently fiihed with nim in the
ii?er Kmmit at Anufiwry in IViksf the feat of his grace the
duke of ^uanfiury*
The reader will excufe the following addition to this note»
for the fake of a beautiful defcription of the materials ufed
in fly-makiBgy which is quoted from the above-mentioned
poem*
** To frame the little animal profuide
•* All the gay hues that fwait on female pride ;
*• Lit naeure guide thee^ fametimes golden tuirep
•• Thejhimtig heUies of the fly rehire,
** The peacock* i plumes thy tackle muft not flails
** iV(5»r the dear pur chafe of the fablers tail.
•* Each gaudy bird fome ftender tribute brings ^
** And lends the growing ittfeSi proper *wings.
*• Silks 9 of all colour St mujf their aid impart t
•• And ev^ryfurr promote the fijher*s art^
*^ So the gay lady^ with expenji^ve care,
*• Borronus the pride of land y effea^ of air \
*• Furrsy pearls y and plumes^ the glittering thing difple^Sf
•* DoKzle our eyes, and eafy heart t betrays*'*
Peace
)l4Ci ^^ GOMPLBTB ANCtER* P^Tt I^
: Peace Chloris, peace^ orjinging die^
That together you and I
3*0 heaven may go :
For all we know ,
Of what the hlejfed do ahove
Is, that theyjing, and that they love^
Pifi: Well remembered, brother Peter, thcfc
verfes came feafonably, and we thank you hear-
tily. Co^ne, we will all join together, my hoft
and all, and ling my fcholar's catch over again,
and then each man drink the other cup and to
bed, and thank God we have a dry houfe over
our heads.
Pifc. Well now, good night to every body.
Pet. A nd (o fay I.
Fen. And fo fay I.
Cor. Good night to you all, and I thank you»
Pifc. Good-morrow, brother Peter^ and the
like to you, honeft Coridon :. come, my hoftefs
fays there is fcvcn fliillings to pay, let*s each
man drink a pot for his morning's draught, and
lay down bis two (hillings, that fo my hode^
may not haveoccaGon to repent herfelf of being
fo diligent, and ufing us fo kindly.
Pet. The motion is liked by every body, and
fo, hoftefs, here's your money ; we anglers are
all beholding to you, it will not be long ere Til
fee you again. And now, brother Pifcator^ I
wi(h you and my brother, your fcholar^ a fair
day and good fortune. Come, Coridon, this is
our way.
CII A P.
Cbap. XVli. 3T&tf Complete Angler. 441*
CHAP. XVII.
^ Roach and Dace, and bow to fjh
for them I and of Cadi s^ .
Venatoh.
GOOD mafter, as wc go ftow towards.
Jjfndon^ be ftill fo courteous a& to give
me more inftruftions, for I have feveral
boxes in my memory, in which I will keep thcrh
ail very fafe, there fliall not one of them be
loft. . .
Pifc. Well, fcholarj that I will, and I will
hide nothing from you that I can remember, and
can think may help you forward towards a per-
ft^ion in this art \ and becaufe we have fO much
t)me, and I have faid fo little of Roach and
Dace, I will give you fome dire^ions concerning
them.
Some fay the Roich is fo called, from RuHlus^
iKrhich they fay figniges red fins : he is a fi(h of
tio great reputation for his dainty tafte, and his
fpawn is accounted much better than any other
part of him. And yon may take notice, that as
i\it Card is accounted the water-fox for his cun*
ning, fo the Roach is accounted the water-
flieep for hisfimpUcity or fooliflinefs. It is noted"
that the Roach and Dace recover ftrength, and
grow in feafon in a fortnight after fpawhing : the*
Barbel and. Chub in a month, the Trout in four^
months, and the Salmon in the like time, if ht
gets into the fea> and after into frelh waten
R Roaches
T42 9% CoKTPEJTE A»ci;ek% FaitH
Roaches be accounted much better in the
fiver than in ajpond, though ponds ufually breed
the biggeft. But there is a kind of baftard fmaU;
Roach that breeds in ponds with a v^rjr forked-
tail, and of a very ftnall fize, which fikne fay is-
bred by the Bl«am and right Roach, and fome
ponds are ftored with the^ beyond belief; and'
Knowing men that i)lik>W( ^h^ir differente, callr
thena R^ids ; they differ from t\tt true Roach, a9»
nuch as a Herring from^ a fikhard 'r and theie^
baftard-breed (^ Rjoac^ are now feattered iit
iAaAy.river$,.bat I think nor rn r^^kmm^ wbictt
I believe ^ords ^c largeft and fa«eft in thir
natioa^ cfpecially below Btm^'iridg^e ^ z' th^:
Roach is a leather mouthed fiih, and has a kind
0f faw^ike teeth in* his throat, i^nd^ laftty, let:
me tell you,, the Roach make? an an^r excet-
^ Sknow not what Roaches are cangfetRisIow brid^, bbtf
above I am Atrt they are very larg«, iiikving eaagHc thtm*
Inhere of very near two pounds weight ; and at Shefiftrt^^
amd Hm^omiu Middbtfijf, odier* ha¥f takmi dica nmchi
keavier.
The feafon^ fbr fflhing for Roach, in the T/fuMts begins*
abont the latter end of Augajf, and continues much longer
than it is either pltafant or fafe to fiOh It >eqiim» foner
fittll to hit the time of taking them txtCdj ; for all the fum-
jner long they live on the weed; which they do not forfake^
Ibr the deeps till it becomes putrid, and that is fooner or
later, according as the feaion it wet or dty ^ for yon are to '
haoWf that much rain haftens the rotting of the weed : I
£iy it rehires fome kilLta hit the time ^ fop tkwr fi(hermett«
who live in all the towns along the river, from Cii/<wsekxs>
Staines^ are abont this time nightly npon the watch, as (boii<'
as the fi(h>come out,- to fweep them away with' a drag-net ;/
and our poor patient angler is left baitii^ thie gioimd, and^
adjufUng his tackle, to catch thofe very fi& which, pefhapt^
the n]£)i(. before have been carried* to tHUngJ^iite.
fcni
Chap. XVlI. SV CowpLfte AwGLiR. 24J
krit fport, fclpeeially the gfca Roaches about
tondotty where I think there be the beft Roach-
an^er^ and I think the beft Trout-anglers be
m JMi^jl^e, for the waters there are clear Vf
Ml extremit;'.
Nesn, lee ttft' mil ;>oo, 70U &aQ fi(b for thi>
Roach
In winter with pn^t or gentles, in JpHt with
worms or cadis j in the very hot months with
little white fnails, or with flies under water, for
he feldom takes them at the top^ though the
Dace will. In many of the hot months. Roaches
may alfo be caught thus : take a. A£iy-fly, of
ant-fly, Gnk him with a little lead to the bottom
. near to the piles or polls of a bridge, or near
to any polVs of a wear, I mean any deep place
whAv Roaches lie qaietiy, arid then pull your
Sty up very' leifureVy, and ufually a Roach will
follow youf bait to the very top of the water*
and g»eon'ic there, and run at it and take it,
Uft the fly Ihoold fly away from him.
R 2 X
S44 ^te CowPXBTE AMdLE'if. Parth
I have fcen this done at fVindfor and Henltj-'
bridge^ and great ftore of Roach taken, and
romecimes a Dace or Chub-v and in jiuguft you
may 6fh for them witb a pafle raade only of the
crumbs of bread, which mould be of pure fines
oiaachct^ and that pafte muft be fo tempt^
betwixt your hands, till it be both foft and tougli
too 1 a very little water, and time and labour,*
and clean hands, will make it a moft excellent
pafte : but when you fi(h mth it, you muft have-
a fmall hook, a quick eye,-, and s nimble bandy
or the bM is loft and the fifh too^ if one m!^
lofe that which he never had ; with this pafte,
you may, as 1 faid, take bot^ the Roacby and
the Dace or Dare,>
^r they be much of a kiiid, in OKttferof'feediffg&
cunning, goodnefs, and ufually in iize. Anci
therefore take this general direction for fome
other baits which may concern you to take no-
tice of. They will' bite almoft at any fly,> but
efpeciaUy
Cterp.lCVtt. ?2&^ CoMPLtTE Angxbr. 245
jefpecially at antrfiies ; coocerriing which, take
this dire&ion« for it is very good.
Take the blackifli ant .fly out of the mole-
hill or ant-hill» in which place you (hall find
them in the month oL^ftf^^^i or if chat be too
early in the year, then dpttbtlefs you may .find
them in y^^^ Jtuguft^ and moft of September ;
gather them aHve widi both their wings, and
then put them into a glafs that will hold a quart
or a pottle % but'firft put into the glafs a handfi/1
or more of the moift earth, out of which you
gather them, and as nnruch of ttie ropts of the
grafs of thefaid hilloc^c, and then^iat in the flies
gently, that they lofe not their wings ; Jay a clo^
of earth over it, and then it roapy as are put
into the jglafs viathaufbruifing, wfll live there a
month or more, and be always in a readinefs for
you to fifh with ; but if you would have them
xeep longer, then get any ^eat earthen pot, pr
barrel ofthrce or four gallons, which is better ;
then wafh your barrel withrwatcr and honey, and
having put into it a qu^iitrty of ,eaijh and grafs-
jroots, thcfi ptit in your fliei^, and cover i;, and
they willfepe^ quarter of a yeari thefe in any
ftream and clear ^water, are a deadly bait for
Koach orDace, orfcffaChub; and your rule is,
to fifh not lefs than a handful from tfe bottom.,
I (hall next teB you a winter-bait for a Roach,
a Dace, or Chub, and it is choicely good. About
All'ballowtidey asd fo till froft comes, when you
fcc men ploughing up heath ground, or fandy
ground, or green (wards, then follow the plough,
and you (hall find a white worm as big as two
maggots, and it hath a red head ; you may ob-
forve in Avhat ground moft ace, for there tih6
R 3 crows
146 ^i^^ CojJLvuzT,z AngtHr. Part I
^rows will be very watchful and follow thu
plough very dofc ; it is all foft, and iuU of
whitUh guts : a worin chat is in JSIorfalk^ and fome
pcher counties, called a gi:ub, and is bred of dhe
fpawn or eggs of a beetle, which ih.e leaves ix^
holes that fixe digs in the ground under.aoiy or
horfe-dung, and there refts all winter, and i^
j^Iarcb or April comts to be firft'a.rc^. And then
a black beetle : gather a thouCand or two of.tbefe,
find put them with a peck or two of their owp
parth into fome .tub or firkin, and cover and keep
Ithcm fo warm, that the froft or cold air, qr
winds kill them not i; thpfc you rpay keep all
winter, and kill 6J[h with thcfm at any time : and
|f you put fome of them inp a little earth and
honey a day before you ufe them, you will finc^
|hem an excellent bait for Bream, Carp, or inr
deed for almoft any §ih.
And after this m^nrjer you may alfo lcce|>
ccntles all winter, which are a good i)ait thc?^
and much the bettter for being lively and tough;
or you may breed and keep gei)tles thu§: take 4
piece of beaft*s liver, and with a crofsftick, hanj^
It in fome corner oyer a pot pr barrel, half full oi
|dry clay, and as the gentles grow big they will
fall into the barrel apd fcour tbemfelves, and be
always ready for ufe whenfoever you incline tp
fiftij and thefe gentles rpay be thus created till
Sifter Michaelmas. But ifyoudefiretokeepgemlc?
to fiCb with all the year, then get a dead cat or
a kite, and let it be fly-blown, apd when thp
gentles begin td'be alive and to ftir, then bury
it and them in fpft moift eartl), but as free fronj
frolt as you can, and thefe yoa may dig up at
^ny tinie when ypu intgpd to ulp thcip j thefe
wiir
Chiip.XVII. ^ Complete AucxtR. 247
^\\l iaft till Mardy^ and about that time turn tp
l>e .flies.
But flf yott be nice to foul your finger^ whicb
;good anglers feldom are, then take this bait :
^t a handful of well-made malt, and jput k
into a difli of wat^, and then wafli and rub it
4)etwixt your bands till you make it clean, and
.as free from hufks as you can } then put that wa-*
ter from it, and put a fmall quantity of frefii
water to it, andiet it in fomeching that is fit for
rthat pui;pofe over the fire, where it is not to bo^
japacCf but leifureiy ,md very ^Toftly, until it be^
•come fomewh/it fofc, which you may try by
feetingit betwiict your. finger and thumbs and
when it is fofc, then put your water from it, and
^hen tak« a Iharp knife* and turning the fprout
^nd of the corn ^upward, ivich the point of your
^nife take the%ack partoftlie huft: off from i^
and yet leaving a kind of inward huik on the
corn, or^dfe it is marr'd, and then cujt off that
grouted ond, I mean a littk of it, chat the
twhite noay appear, aiid fo pull off the huflc on
che cloven fide, as 1 dire&ed you, and then
•cutting offa very little of che other end, that fo
your noolf: .may en ter 5 and if your hook be
Imall and good, you will find this to be a very
choice bait either for winter or fummer, you
fometimes caflnqg a little of it into the plaoc
where your float Twims,
And to take the Roach and JDace, a good bait
4s the young brood of wafps or bees, if you dtp
ithcir heads in blood; efpccially good forfiream^
if they be baked or hardened in thtir hulks in aji
'Oven, after the bread is taken out of it, or harden-
.^ on a fire-lbovel 5 and fo alfo is the thickjblood
K 4 ^ jqH
44.8 STi^^ Complete Angler. Parti;
of (hecp, being half dried on a trencher, that
{o you may cut it into fuch pieces as may bed fit
the fize of your hook, and a little fait keeps it
from growing blacky and makes it not the worfe
but better : this is taken to be a choice bait if
rightly ordered.
There be fcveral oils of a ftrong fmcll that I
have been told of, and to be excellent to tempt
fifli to bite, of which I could fay much y but I
remember I once carried afmall bottle from Sir
George Hajiings to Sir Henry fFotton-, they werfc
both chemical meD) as a great prefent ; it was
fent, and received, and Xifcd with great con-
fidence ; and yet upon enquiry, I found it did not
anfwer the expeftation of Sir Henry^ which, with
the help of this and other circumftances, makes
me have little belief in ifuch things as many men
talk of: npt but that I think fifhes both fmell
and hear, as I have expreft in my former dif*
courfe ; but there is a myfterioqs knack, which,
though it be much cafier than the philofopher*s
jtone, yet it is not attainable by common capaci-
ties, or elfe lies locked up in the brain or breaft
bf fome chemical man, that like the Rq/tcrucf"
ans *, will not yet reveal it^ 8ut let me neverthc-
* A fed of frantick enthufiaHs, who fprung up in Gnmanj
mboQt the beginning of the fourteenth century ; they profeA>
/ed'to teach the art of making gold, and bqafted of a fecret,
in their power, tp protradl the period of human life, and even
to reftore youth. Their founder having been to (he Holj
Vand^ pretended to have learned all this from the Arahu
They propagated their fenfelefs philofophy by tradition, and
revealed their myfteries only to a chofen few ; and to this
gra^ce the author alludes. Iftmery^ in bi& bqok of Cbemiflry^
as thus defined their art : '* Arsfiut arte cuius prtKcipium men-
ttrh
Chap. XVII. 7^^ Complete Angler; 245!
lefs telb you, that camphire put with mofs into
your worm-bag with your worms, makes them^
if many anglers be not very much miftaken,
a tempting bait, and the angler more fortunate.
But I ftepped by chance into this difcourfe of
oils and fi(he's fmelling, and though there might
be more faid, both of it and^f baits for Roach
find Dace, and other float-filh, yet I will forbear
it at this time % and tell you in the next place
how
^' tirif medium lahorart li fijus mindicare,** An art without
art, whofe beginning is lying, whofe middle is labour, and
whofe end is beggary.
• Roach delight in gravelly or fand/ bottoms : their
haants, efpedaiiy as winter approaches, are clear, deep,
and dill waters ; at other times they lie in and near weeds,
and under the ihade of boughs.
' They fpawn about the latter end of May, when they are
fcabby and ucwholfome, but they are again in order in
about rhreeVeeks ; the largeft are taken after Michaelmaff
and their prime feafon is id February or March.
The baits for Roach, not already mentioned, are cad-
bait and oak-worms for the fpring ; in May^ ant's eggy,
and pafte made of the crombs of a new roll, both white!
and ringed with red, which is done by putting vermilion
into the water wherewith you moiften it ; this pafte will do
for -che winter al(b.
The largeft Roach in this kingdom are taken in the
TBameSt where many have been caught of two poundt and
a half weight ; but Roach of any £ze are hardly to be come
ilt without a boat.
The haunts of Dace are gravelly, fandy, and clayey
l)ottom8 ; deep holes that are fiiaded ; water-1 illy leaves, and
under the foam caufed by an eddy : in hot weather they ar#
to be found on the ihallows, and are then beft taken with
an artificial fly, grafhoppers, or gentles, a^ hereafter di-
xe6ted.
Dace fpawn about the latter end of Marcb, and arc in
feafon about three weeks after ; they are not very good till
about Michaeltnasi and are beft in February^
Baitt
Jhow yosi *rp to prepare your^tackjing: oonccm-
^g whicA^ I Will, for Iport-ftke, give you an ol^
Bsuts for Dace, btbar tlian thofe tte»€of»ed % Walfoif^
^re.the ostk-worm, red-wonn, brandling/ ^ih-ta?!, ^vi
«iiiked any woMD^bped4>n txeofi or bopfties cbatJsmoCiioo big
JfqrhknM^otb: aimoft.alMdoddqf flies. and iQ|it9ff^]Mrs.
Thpfi^ghD^aeaxe oftoaxaiigiyt with^i ik>aC asRoadi^ |r«t
they are not fo properly float- fiih ; for thcj are to be ta^en
vith^n artificial gnat, ur arrt-ily, or indeed, altnoft any
<otbor foiall fly in its feaibo ; but in the Thames^ above Rich"
ftnond^ the largeft are caught wiffa a -nataral green or daa
^i>Uhopper^ iind .fometiines •with , ^fcntki^ with Jbotii
i«^hich.>sOtt.arr.toii(h« as withan4uitl£cialfly; tbey ase^iot^
t>e come at till about Sepiemher^ when the ^Mee^s begin tp
4rot| but when yea have found where lheryr]jie, .woucfa ia
^ warm day 1. r^nerally on theihallows, 'lis incredible wh ait
bavock yoti ci^v noake : pinch off theiirfl joint of the gxal^
l)npper's legs, put the point of the hook .in at the Jiea<^
4»nd bring ft />at at the jtail ; and in this way of £fhing yos
4viU •catch Chub, eijpeciMty if jou throw «ndcr ^e boqglia.
.But this can .be .done only in a boat, for the^manag^nusnt
^ivhereof be|xrovided «(dth,a Haft, ax)d aheavy iipnc iaftcpeil
ps> a firing j-ape df /our or £ve yarli^ In Je^gtR^; fiaften the
fc^ to tbe head of the boa^ vdiich, ^whether it he ^ Mtnft
ior a wherry, i^ equally fit for this parpofc;, and fo.driv4e
fdown with the dream: when yoa come ,to a fallow, or
lOiher place where the fiih are likely to lie, drop the ftooe^
and, ftanding ki the^ftern, throw rigkt down the flream, anjl
ai litde to ttie r^ht and left : after trying abont a quarter of
|io hour in a place, with the flaffpufh the.jboat^bput^iv
5rard£down, 9nd fo throw again. XJie a commcm fly-Un^
about ten yards long, with a ftrong fingle hair next tli^
fiook.
It is true, there is lefs certainty of catching in this w^
JChan with a float and ground- bait ; for which^reafon I woul4
f ecommend it only to thofe who live near the banks of thajt
delightfnl river, between f^ind/or and IJk^QHh^ who have
or can command a boat for that parpofe, and can take ad*
vantage of a fti}], warm, gloomy day ; and to fuch it will
afford much more di^erfion, than the ordinary inartificial
xnethcd of fiOiing in the deeps for Roach and l>acer
Chap. XVII. 9j&rCo MP LITE Anoxer. a^gt
rhime out of an old fi(h-book, which will prove
a part, and but a part, pf what you are to
provide.
In fiihjDg at bottom for Roach and Dace, nfe for ground*
bait, bre^d fbaked about an hour in water, and an equal
quantity of bran; knead (hem to a tou^h confidence, and
majcc them up into balls, with a fmall pebble in (j>e middle,
and throw, thefe balls in where you fi(h ; but be fure to
^hrow them ,up the flream, for otherwife they will draw
the fifh beyond the reach of your line.
fifk for Roach within fix, and /or Pace within three
inches of the bottpm.
Having enumerated tJ\e baits proper for eytry Jclnd of £ft
in their refpeftive places, it iray not be amifs here to mention
one, which many authors fpeak of as excellent for almoll;
aH fi(h« and that is the fpawn of Salmon, or large Trout.
Barkery who feems to have been the fir ft that difcovered it,
recommends it to his patron in the following terms :
*« Noble Lord,
all my time; and will take great ftore, and not fail, if
they be there. Secondly, It is a (pecial bait for Dace or
" Dare, good forChuborBottlin, or Grayling. The bait
' '* is the roc of a Salmon or Trout : if it be a large Trout
** that the fpawns be any thing great, you may angle for
^* the Trout with this bait as you angle with thebrandlin,
•'' taking a pair of fciiTars, and cut fo much as a large hafel-
*' nut and bait yoqr hook» fo fall to your fport ; there ia
no doubt of pleafnre. If I bad known it but twenty
years ago, I wpuld have gained a hundred pounds only
with that bait. I am bound in dufy to divulge it to
your honour, and i)ot to carry it to my grave with me.
'* I do defire that men of jquality fnould have it that de-
** light in that pleafgre. The greedy angler will murmur
f* at me, but for that I care not.
•' For the angling for the Scale-fi(h, they mufl angle
/•' either with cork or quill, plumming their ground, and
*• with
I
it
•«
• c
452 7*^6^ Complete Angleir. Parti,
ik^ rod and My line, myfloai and wy lead^
My book and my plummet^ my wbetfione and knifes
^y bajkety my baits botb living and dead^
My net and my meatj for that is the chief:
S'hen Imuft have thr^ad^ and hair sgrem and fnutU^
With mine angling furfe^ andfo yeu ban^e all.
But
i
^ with feeding with the fame 'bait, takuig tbejn afijoder^
** that they may ijpread abroad* that the fiih laay feed and
'** come to your place: there is no doobt of pleaTarc^
angling with fine tackle ; as iingle hair lines, at leaft
five t>r 'fix lengths long, a fmall hook, with two or three
{pawns. The bait will hold one week ; if you keep it
** on any longer, yon mufl hang it up to dry a little :
^* when you go to your pleafure again* pat the bait in 41
*^ little water* it will come in kiad agaia«"
Others* to preferve Salmon-rpawn,-^fprinkIe it with 1
little fak, and lay it upon wool in a pot, one layer of wool*
Bnd another of (pawn. It ^s faidto be a lovely bait for the
«vinter or Spring, efpecially where Salmon .arje ufed t9
^awn* for thither die filh gather, anfi there expedt it.
jing* Vade Mecum^ 5|«
To know, at4Uiy time, what hart filh areupt to take*
ppen the belly of the firft you catch* and take oat his
fiomacb very tenderly; open k wkh a -(harp penknife* and
you will di^o^'er what he then feeds on.
VenMts^ 191.
The people who live in the fifhing-towns along the banks
of the Thames^ have a method of dreffing large Roath and
Dace, which, as 'tis faid, renders them a very pleafant and
iavoury food ; it is as follows : Without fcaling the fiih, lay
him on a gridiron* over a flow iitt^ and ftrew on him a little
fiour ; when he begins to grow brown* make a (lit* not more
ihan fkin deep, in his back, from head to tail, and lay him
on again : when he is broiled enough* the (kin, fcales and
«ll, will peel off, and leave the fle(h, which will have be-
come vtT/ firm, perfedly clean ; then open the belly, and
Cake out the infide* and ufe anchovy and batter for fauce.
.Having
Chapk XVll. ^bi Complete Anc'LEr. 253
. But you muft have all thefe tackling, and
Iwice fo many more *, wkh which, if you mcar*
tOf
iisiing promtfti the nkier Mr. Barkfr*9 recipe for
anointing boots and fhoes, and having no further occafion
to make afe of his authority, it is here given in his owi»
words :
'* Take a pint of linfeed-oil, with half a pound of rout-
** ton-fuety iix or eight ounces of bees-wax, and half a
^ pennjFworth. of ro£i ; boil all this in a p»pkin together »
** fo let it cool till it be milk-warm ;. then take a little
*' hair-brufli^ and lay it on your new boots ; but it is befl*
** that tliis ftutf be laid en before the boot -maker makes
*^ the boots ; then 5ra{& them, onee over after they comd
^ from him : as for old boots^ you muft lay it on when
•• your boots be dry.'*
* If you go any great diftance from home, you will find
it neceflkry to carry with you many more things than arar
&ere enumerated, moft of which may be very well contained,
ip a wicker panier of about twelve inches wide, and eight
high, of the form, and put into a hawking-bag, as in
Fig. lo. Plate IX. the following^ is a lift of the nEioft mate^
ri^: A rod with a (pare top; unes coiled up, and neatly
laid in round flat boxes ; fpare links,, fingle hairs, waxed
thread, and filk ; plummets of various fia^s, of the forn»
of Fig. 1 1 . Plate IX. floats of all kinds, and fpare caps ^
Worm*bag3, and a gentle-box. Fig. 12. Plate IX. hooka
of all fiaes,i fome whipped to fingle hairs ; (hot, flioemaker's-
wax,.in a very ifmall gallipot covered with a bit of leather ;
a clearing- sing, tied to about (Ix yards of Urong cord, pf the
ihapeof Fig. 13. Plate IX. the ufe of this is t6 difengage
your hook when it has caught a weed, gfr. in which cafe
take off* the butt of your rod and flip the ring over the remain-
ing joints, and, holding it by the cord, let it^ently fall ^
a landing-net, the hoop whereof muH be of iron, and made
with joints to fold, in the (hape of Fig.. 14. Pilate IX. andf
a focket tohold a llafF, Fig. 15. Take with you alfo fuch
baits as you intend to ufe. That you may keep your fi(h
alive,, be provided with a fmall hoop-net, to draw clofe ta
the top, and never be without a iharp knife and a pair of
(biilarsr;
254 57>r CaKiPLETjr Akglbr; Part!;
L j^ to be a firtiCr, yotx maflr ftore
'J^LiiZ'ilt yojrfehf ; and tothat jHirpofe 1
htintriTudatffly Will gO With yOU Clthcf tO Mn
fouitds in the in- Margrove^ who dwells amongft
n^t^orf^^^' the bookfeH^rs* iit Sr. P^fs
^^* Churth-yard, of to Mr. >fti
Stuhs^ near to the ^zc^tf/i in Golicn-larit \ they be
both
feifikrs ; and, if yotf iri«iif td nfe tlte af difeiisr ffy, hMve
)four f?y-book alW^y? witlfr yoa.
And, for the mofe conv«fnieiit kee^in|^ and' carnage' of*
lines, titrks, iingf e Iraits, l£c, tAt x piece of p«ifclMiDtn£
0t vdlum, fcvcn inches by ten; cin the longer ftdrt fet otf
four inches, and then* fold' ir crofi-wife, fo as tc^ leave* a flaj^
of two inches, of which hereafter ; then take eight or ten
piece) of parchment, of fevren incheaby four, pur thenr into
the parchment or vellum, fb folded, and^few op- the ends;
their cut the flap roandin^, atid fold' it down like a* pocSeN
book : laltly, you may, if yOa pleafe, bind' tie ends* an^
fbund the ffap with red tape.
Into this cafe' put liries, coifed' op, fpare links, £ngU
hiairs, hookf ready whipped and looped. -'
And having feverai'of thefe ca(es^ you may fill them whfif
lines, &c. proper for every kind of fiihing'; always rt^-
memfoering; to out intd each of them a gorger, or fmalP
piece of cane, of five' inches long, and a quarter of an incfaf
wide, with a notch at each end ; witit thh, wfien a Hfh kaea"
^yged yo\ir hook, yotf may, by putting it down his thit>a^
till you' f^eh the hook, and holding theane tight while yocr
preis it dowii, eafily disengage iti
And if you Ihould chance to break yout tbp, or any otber
partof your rod, take the following direfiions for mend-
iifg it : Cat de two broken ends with a long flope, fo that
thev fit neatly together ; then fpread fome wax very thttr on
eacn flope, anti, with waj^ed thread or filk, according at
the fize of the broken part requires*, bind them very neatl/
together : to faftfcn ofP, lay the fore- finger of your I^- hamf
oyer the binding, and, with your right, ma!t^ four tarns'of
the thread over it; then pafs the end of yoar thread betwee«r
the
botfr honed* men, and wilt fit aa* angler mth
what tackling be kicks^ *.
Venar.
tBe ander-iida of yoiR' Alger txti At roi^ tnd) d«v^ 3ro«r
fagiBraway f laftlyv with the fbre*fi»ger aod'tb&fifb of ypar
rfght-hand, take hold of the iKrft of tha turrhs, atrd gathering;
ascmoGh of it as jpd can, biad oa till the lYixee remainiog*
Itmis are wooad oiF» and thea take hoU of tk^er>dy v^hich
Shed lielbre pitt thioagh^ and draw dofe. Seeiike worfe
» X. Figt 1 9 a.-
For wiiippiag^on a beok take the followiitg dfreftioiis r
Place the hook betwixt the fore-ikigitfr and thomb of yoar'
teft-hand, aiid> with yoar right, givtr the wadced iitk' three o#^
ftiiF tayns rowid the fliaok of the htook : dien lay the end-
of ^e hair oi^th^itaft^e of the fluAk,^ a«d, with yoisr right-
haodr whip down^ as in Fig. 3. ^late X. when you* are
within al)OiK foar tor ns of the bent of the hook, takt the*
ftank between the fore-fin;g;er and thuiAbof your leftl-haod^
and place flbt end of the Uk cWi by it> htoldifig then botb
light, aord leavtne; the ead tohang.d^wfff then -draw ther
other pai>t of the nik into a large loop, and, with yoar right*
land turning; backwards; aa m Fig. 4. Plate X. conti'ntt^
i^t whippings for foirr tarns', and draw the end of the fiik,,
tt^hkh has alli this whili^ hang dowft uadbr the root of yoor
Kfc'tbqmb, cfole,r and twitd^ it oC
To tie a/ water-knot, lay the end of one of yoar Jiairs
about five inches or }ers,.orer that of the'other,. and tlffOogh^
the loopv whieh you would itiake tO'tr»tkem iiv thie odintmoni
way, pafs th& loi^and the (hart end of the hairsy'whicli'
will He to tbr right •f tlie loop, twice,, and wetting the
knot with your tongue, draw it clofe, and cut o^the fpare
lair. See Ffg. 5. Plate SL
* In* ibmcf f6rnler editions of this^ book* the author has,, in
this place, mentioned CharUs Kirby as a maker of excelkat
hooka; of v^boK- take tho ibllowiog. aceottnt :. He was fa^
noas for the- iKjatnefs and form of his hooks, when bein^
kith}dacQd tO( prince Rupm^ whofe name frequently occurs
iff the kil!o8y of king Cbarks the Firft's reigo, the prince
coiAiiLOfncated to him a niethod of temperii^g.tiiein, whiclk
haar beencofttintted ia the faintly to this time; there being
a lineal defendant of the above^nam^d Chafki K^rhy now
living
456 'The Complete ANGLERi Partl*^
» VenaL Then* good mafter, let it be at — ^-^
K for he is neareft to my dwelling, ^nd J
pray kt*s meet there the ninth of May next,N
about two of the clock, and FU want nothing
that a fiflier Ihduld be furnifhed with.
Pifc. Well, and I'll not fail you^ God v/illing}
at the cime and place appointed.
Venai. 1 thank you, good maftcr, and I will
not fail you : and, good matter, tell me what
baits more you remember, for it will not novcf.
be long ere we (ball be at Tdttenbatnhigb'Crdfs^
and when we come thither I will make you fome
requital of your pains, by repeating as choice a
copy of verfes, as any we have heard fince wc
tnet together j and that is a proud word, for wc
have heard very good ones.
Pifc. Well, fcholar, and I fliall be then right
glad to hear them -, and I will as we walk, tell
you whatfocver comes in my mind, that I think,
may be worth your hearing. You may make
another choice bait thus ^ take a handful or two
of the bed and biggeft wheat you can get, boit
it in a little milk, luce as frumity is boiled ; boil
it fo till it be foft» and then fry it very leifurely
with honey and a little beaten fafiron diflblved
in milk, and you will find this a choice bait, and
good I think for any fi(b, efpecially for Roach^
Dace, Chub, or Grayling : I know not but that
living in Crowther*S'ivelUaltej^ near Aldtrfpai^ftreet ; wbofe
liooks, for thetr ihape and temper, exceed all others. This
ftory is the more likely to be true, aa it is well known that
the German nobility, in the laft centnty, were much addided
to chemiftry ; and that to this prince Rupitt the world is
indebted for the invention of fcraping in mezzotinto. See
a head of his fcraping in Eveijn*$ Sculfatrm*
•
It
Chap.XVIL The Complete Angler. 257
it may be as good for a river Carp, and efpeciall/
if the ground be a lie tie baited with it.
And you may alfo note, that the fpawn of
moft fiQi is a very tempting bait, being a little
hardened on a warm tile, and cut into fit pieces *•
Nay, mulberries, and thofe black-berries which
grow upon briers, be good baits for Chubs or
Carps ; with thefe many have been taken in ponds^
and in fome rivers where fuch trees have grown
near the water, and the fruits cuftomarily dropc
into it \ and there be a hundred other baits more
than can be well named, which, by conftant
baiting the water, will become a tempting baic
for any fi(h in it.
You are alfo to know, that there be divers
kinds of cadis, or cafe-worms, that are to be
found in this nation, in feveral diftinft counties,
and in feveral little brooks that relate to bigger
rivers ; as namely, one cadis called a piper,
whofe hufk or cafe is a piece of reed about an
inch long or longer, and as big about as the com-
pafs of a twopence i thefe worms being kept
three or four days in a woollen bag with fand at
the bottom of it, and the bag wet once a day,
will in three or four days turn to be yellow; and
thefe be a choice bait for the Chub or Chavender,
or indeed for any great Bib, for it is a large bait.
There is alfo a leflcr cadis- worm, called a
cock-fpur, being in fafhion like the fpur of a
cock, (harp at one end, and the cafe or houfe
in which this dwells is made of fmall huiks, and
gravel, and (lime, moft curioufly made of thefe,
even fo as to be wondered at, but not to be made
by man no more than a king-fi(her's neft can^
* Sec the note m page 151.
S which
15^ ^^ CaKPtiTB ANcriBitr IWtX
i;vhich is made of little fifties bones, and have
ittch a geometrical interweaving and connef^ton,
as the like i^ not to be done by the art of man :
this kind of cadis is a choice bait for zny ftoai;- fifty
it is much lets than the piper- cadrs, and to be lb
ordered ; and thefe may be preferved ten, fif-
teen, or twenty days, or it may be longer *•
' There is alfo another cadis, called by feme s
ftraw-worm,. and by fome a tufi^-coat, whofe
houfe or cafe h made of little pieces of bents,
and ruthes, and ft raws, and water- weeds, and!
know not what, which are fo knit together with;
condenied (lime, that they ftick about her hufk
or cafe, not Unlike the briftles of a hedge-hog ;.
thefe three cadis's are commonly taken in the
beginning of fumtner, and are good indeed ta
take any kind of fi{h with float or othevwife. I
might tell you of many more, which as thefe
do early, fo thofc have thcirtime alfo of turning:
lo be files kter in fiimmer ; but 1 might lofe
my felf, and tire you by fuch a difcourfe v I ft^^U
therefore but remember you, that to know thefe
and their feveral kinds, and tawhat flics evcrjr
particular cadis turns^ and then how to- ufe thenar
* To^ pr»(«rye eadR», gralhoppers, /eacerpillarsy oak*-
wortasy or natural Aits, the IbUowiog is an eaecellent mer
tiiod :• Cat a round bough of fiae green- barked withy*.,
about the thickoefs of half one's am, and taking off th^
bark about a fbot rn length, mm both ends tog'ither, into*
tlie form of ao hoop» and faften them widi a paok-needlr
and thread ; then ftop ap the bottom with a boog-cork ;
into this pot your traits, tie it over with a colewort-lea(>
and, with a red-hot wire, bore the bark full of holes, fee
Flate X. Fig. ^. and Hf it in the grafs e^rery night ; m
this ooanner cadk may be kept tilt they tvrn to Aies. T»
grafhoppers yoi» may put g^^fs.
firft
thap. ^Vii. Tie Comp^lete -^nojler. ii^^
£r(t as they be c^dis^ ^nd after as they be flies»
is an art;^ and an art that every one that profefTes
to be ap angler has not leifure to fearch after^
apd if he had is hot capable of learning *.
*^ rii
•
^Thefeveral forts of pbryganea, oi- ca^ews^ in theiir
iiyinphay or ihaggot ftate, thus houfe themfelves ; one fort
in ftrav^Si calfed from thence ftraw<>'worms; otheFs in two.
6r more flicks, laid paraUel to one another, creeping at the
bottom C( l^rooks i others^ with a fmall bundle of pieces of
raflies, duck-weed^ flicks, ^r. glued together, wherewith
they float on the top, and can row themfelves therein abotlt
the waters, with the help of their feet: both theie are called
^ ead-balc. Divers forts there are, which the reader may fet
a fummary of, from Mr. fTiUoughfy^ in Rati Method. JnfiBl
p. 12. together with a good, thoagh very brief defcriptioil
of the papilionaceous fly, thai tomes from the cad-bait
tisdew. It is a notable architedlonick faculty, which ail
the variety of thefe. animals have, to gather foch bodies as zxt
fitteft for their purpofe^ and then to glue them together 1
foroe to be heavier than waten that the animal may re^
ftain at bottom, where its food is ; (for which purpofe they
iffe ftones, together with (licks, rufheS) Sc.^) and fome to MS
lighter than water, to float on the to|), and gather its food
from thence^ Thefe little houfes look coarfe, and fliew nti
great artifice outwardly ; but Are well tunneUed> and mad^
within with a hard tough pallet into which, the kinder parr
of the maggot is fo fixed that it tan draw its cell after it
Hay where, withbut danger of leaving h behind^ as aHb
thruft its body to reach wl^at it want£;ch, orwhhdraw'it
into its cell to guard it againft harms, ^hyf. fhe^l. 234.
Thus much of cadis in general, as an ill uft ration of ^^hzt
^ur author has faid on that fabjed ; but to be more parti'^
•ealar. ^
That which Walteit ea!h the pipef^cadti; t hava.nevit
'leen ; bdt a very learned fiiid ingenious friend of mine, who
'has, for £fty years pad, been an angler, and a curioua ob&
Terver of aquatick produAions, has furnifhed me with ah
ikreouat of that infea ; which 1 ftall give the i^eader In
fiearly his own wo^s !
.• ••.*. •
a6o the Complete Angler; PartL
ril tcU youy fcholar, feveral countries have
feveral kisfds of Cadiz's, that indeed differ as
much as dogs do : that Is to fay, as much as a
very cur and a greyhound do. Thefe be ufii-
ally bred in the very little rills or ditches that
run
*^ The j^ipo'-eadis I tdkt to be tBe tnrgttt of tBe tribe,
** a&d that it takes its name not fromanyiound, but figure*
** I never met with it but in rivers running upon beds of
** lime-ftone, or large pebbles ; they are common in Nor-
'* thern and lt^£lcjk Sreams. The cadew itfitlf is abopt an
** inch loftg, and in fbme above. The cafe is ftrait and
*' rotf h, the outward furface covered with gravel or fand ^
^* the fiftula, or pipe, in which it is contained, feems to be
** a fmair ftick, of which the pith was quite decayed, before
<* the inied, in its ftate immediately fucceeding the egg,
** lodged itfelf. Advanced to an aurelia, which is gene-
** rally in ^/ri/, or the beginning of il^, it leaves its.cafe
/* and laH covering, a fort of thin &in,. vefembling a filh*s
<* bladder (and this is likewife the method of the whole
** genus, as far as 1 could ever obferve) and immediately
<* paddles upon the top of the water with its many legs.
'< It feldom flies, though it has four wings ; and of the(e
*' wings it is to be obferved, that in the infant- date of the
^* infed, .fviz. for a week or longer, they are (horter thaa
^ the body, but afterwards they grow to be full as long or
^* longer : this is ufuall-y called by fportfmen the ftone^Hy i,
" in ^ales they name it the water-cricket ^ the iize and
« colour being like that infe^"
As to tKe cock-fpur, Bewlker expreily fays, in hia Art of
Jnglaigr p> 70- that it produces the May-fly, or yellow-ca-
- dew ; which I have ever underflood to be the green-drake*
That which Walton calls the lira w- worm, or rufF-coat,
though, by the way, he certainly errs in making thefe terms
fynonimou»» as wiH hereafter be madis to appear, and whick
• is dclcribed in ^^z^^s M^thoJus Infi^ierum^ p. 1 a. is, I take ic»
: the moft common of aoy/and is found in the riverCo/fff,. near
JJxbridgt ;. the A^ifoi; Ri*v$r^ near London ; the Wdndltr which
runs through Carjhalton in Sutpy, ; and in mpft other rivera.
Two of this fpecies of infe£ls, drawn from nature,, are givea
Plate XI» Fig. 4 and 5 • anil Fig. 6. i& i^e ap peaiaace of the
cadk
Cliap.XVIL TJtf Complete Angler; 25r
run into bigger rivers, and I chink a more pro-
Ecr bait for thofc very rivers than any other. I
now not how or of what this cadis receives life, '
or what coloured fly it turns to ; but doubtlefs,
they are rhe death of many Trouts, and this is
one killing way.
Take
cadis wlien pulled oat oTlts caie. As to the ftraw-worait
I am aflui:ed, bv my friend above-mentioned, that it pooducet
many and vanous iitSf namely* that which is called about
London the withy4Iy» afli«coloared duns, of feveral (hapes
and dimen£onst as alfo light and dark browns ; all Oif
<bem affording great diveffion in Northern ftreami •
ft now remains to %eak <]f 4ihe ruff coat, which (eems ts
anfwer fo nearly to the defcription which W^alton has given
ttf the cock-fpor» *vm. that ** the cafe or hoafe in which it
^' dwells, is made of fmall hufks, and gravd andilime, moft
^ curiooily ;*' that there is no accounting for hns makin^g
the term fynonimous with that of the draw -worm, which it
does not ut.theleaftxe&mble; and yet that the ruff-coat
and 2|be cock-fpur :prodttce different flies, notwIthHandinj^
thttr ieeming refemblance, muft be taken for granted, un-
less we will rejeA Bowlder's authority, when he fays the
tiock-fpur produces the May -Ay, or yellow xadew ; which^
i own, I iee no reafon to 4o.
B«t, that I may nc^ mtflead the reader, I mnft inforna
hioh that I take the ruff-coat to be a fpedes of cadis in*
clofed in a hnik about an inch long, fnrronnded by bits of
^one, flints, bits of tile, isfc. very near equal in their iizesi^
4ittd moft cttriooSf compacted together like mofaick*
In the month of May 1759^ I took one of the infers laft
above defcribed, which had been found in the rvftr fF^ndle
in $nrry.9 and pat it into a fmall box, with fand at the bot<*
torn, and wetted it five or fix times a day, for two days ; at
the end whereof, to my great amazement, it produced a
lovely large fly, nearl^y of the (hape 0^ but lefs than a com-
4Siion white butterfly, with two pair of cloak wings, and of a
light cinnamon-colour : the figure of the hulk, and alfo of
<the fly, in two pofitions, is given in t^Iate XI. Fig« i# 2, >
This fly, upon enquiry, I. find is called, in the North, the
iarge l(ght l^rowB i in JrMandt and fome other places, it
S J jiaa
Takeooe, or more if need be,, of thefe large
yellow cadis, pull off hU head, and with ic puU
out his black gut, put the body, as little bruirecl
a8 ijs po^ible, on a very little hook,, armed on
with a red hair, which will (^ew lil^e.the cadis-^
headt and a very little thin lead, fo put upon'
the (hank of the hook that it may (ink prefently \
throw this bait thus ordered, which will look -
very yellow, into any great ftilj hole wterc ^.
Tfopt is, and he will prefently venture his^ life
for it, ^tis not to be (doubted, if you brf tiot
efpied ; and that the b^it firft touch the water^
before the line^ and phis wili do beft in the
|3eepeft ftilleft watcr^
Next let me tell yoU, I have been much pleafecf
to walk quietly by ^ broolc wjtb a little ftick \t\
las the name of the flan1(^-c6lbared' bubwo :« and the me*
thbd of making it, is given in the additipnal lift of fiks §a^
f ^timber ; where, from its fikieH, the mA^t will £ad it
Called the large foetid light browt).
And Aerie are inany other kinds of the(b wonderfiil erea?
lures, as may be feen in Monf. fte Resumut^v hhmires fbi^
/emfif a Vfiiftoire dts InJtB^s^ T&me llh from Which, fat the
reader's greater fatisfa<lioi», the figures 7, ^^ 9* low x^
iPlate XI. are accurately delineated.
It i^ greatly to be wifhed, that nbnehad undiBTtakeii tQ
y^rite on this fubjedl of a()uatitk iiatsQCSi but men ceoverft^
}n the (ludy of natural fiiflory ; as £tfv^ ^Shrbiprry S^witm-
mrJam, Reaumur 9 and others were; Uie confe<|t»nce of
'lyhich would have been, that thefe ereatareft would ita^e bad
liaip^^ affigned them which would atonce hat|r«hrar»ftenzed
them, and kept the feveral fpecks diftiM fit>iil e«ch other;
whereas ];he feyeral illiberal terms pf cadis, oadew, cbd-beit^
cad-bait^ c^fe-|9^prm, and cod- worm, each of whrdi, in fom)^
places, means two pp ^hree, and in others, all the differeiit
^3rls 6f thel'p creatures yet known, has bjE^eto-^roduiSiveef
ipextficabfe colifufion, and jyill, I fear, oblige us to confider
their hiftorv as among the defiderata of this curious art.
• my .
C3iap. XVIL SS5^ Coripletje Ai^gieh. 263
my hand, with which I niight eafily take thefe,
and confider the curiofity of their compofure i
and if you fliall ever like to do fo, then note,
that your Hick muft fee a little hafel or willow,
cleft, or have a nick at one end of it; by which
means, vou may with «a(e take many of them in
that nick out of the water, before you have any
occafion to ufc them, Thefe, my honcft fcholar,
are fome obfervatioos told to you as they now
come fuddenly into my memory, of which ycMi
may make fome ufe : but for the praftical part.
It 15 that that makes an as)g^r: it is diligence,
and ohiervarion, and pradUce,^ and an ambition
to be the bed: in the art that muft do it *. i
will
* Tlve anthor lias now dtme dercfiblng dip feyeral kinds
of fifti^ excepting die few little one^ that follow, with the
difieinrt diethods of taking them,, but has faid little or
ftotbifig of float-fi(hingi it may therefofe not beamifs here
to lay dfMvn ibmc rules about it«
Let tiie rod be light and ftrfF, and withal fo (mart in the
Ipringv «B to ftrike Mt the tip of the whalebone : from four-
teen to fifteen feet is a good lengths
In places where yon ibmetimes meet with Barbel, as at
SkMirim wad HMftmt^ in Ms4dkf^» the iitteil line is one
of ikx or ieven h^irs at top ; and fq dimini'&ing for two
yards, l«t tke left be ftrong iW/^^-grafs, to within about
half a yard of the hook, which ma^ be whipped to a fine
graft Or filfe-wonn gvc; and diis line will kill a £fli of fix
pounds weight.
' But for hMJC Hoach and Daoe-fi&ing, accuftom yonrfelf
to a fingle-hair line, with which an artift may Jdll a filk
of a pound and a half weight*
' For your float, in flow ftreaan^, a ^eat round gooie-
^oill is proper, bat for deep or rapid rivers, or in an eddy«
the cork, fliaped like a pear, is indifpatably the beft ; whidi
4i0ttld not, in general, exceed the flze of a nutmeg ; let not
^he-^aiU*. which yoo f ut thrqngh it, bt more than half aa
S 4 iacb
264 The Complete Angler! Parti.
will tell you^ fcholar, I once heard one fay, " I
*' envy not him that cats better meat than I do,
** nor him that is richer, or that wears better
•' clothes than I do ; I envy no body bat him,
*' and him only, that catches more fi(h than I
•' do." And fuch a man is like to prove an
angler, and this noble emulation I wilh to you
and all young anglers.
inch above and below the cork ; and this float, though (bme
prefer a fwan's- quill, has great advantage over a bare quill ;
lor the quill being defended froni the water by the cork,
does not foften, and the cork enables you to lead your line
fo heavily, as that the hook fmks almoft as foon as you put it
into the water; whereas, when you lead but lightly, it does
not get to the bottom till it is near the end of your fwim.
See the form of the float, Plate IX. Fig. i6. and, in leading
your lines, be careful to.balance them (0 nicely, that a very
(mail touch will fink. them; fome ufe for this purpofe lead
ihaped like a barley-corn, but there is nothing better to lead
with than (hot, which yoii mufl have ready cleft always with
you, remembering, that when you fifli fine, it is better to have
on your line a great number of fmall than a few large ihot*
Whip the end of the quill round the plug with fine filk,
well waxed ; this will keep the water out of your float, and
prefcrve it greatly.
In fifhing with a float, your line fliould be about a foot
Ihorter than your rod ; for if it is longer, you cannot fo weH
command your hook when you come to difengage the fifli.
Pearch and Chub are caught with a float, and alfo Gud«
geons, and fometimes Barbel and Grayling.
For Carp and Tench, which are* feldom caught but in
ponds, ufe a very fmall goofe or a duck-quill float; and for
ground-bait throw in, tvery now and then, a bit of chewed
bread.
For Barbel, the place fliould be baited the night before yo«
fifli, with graves ; which are the fediment of melted tallow,
and may be had at the tallow-chandlers : ufe the fame ground-
bait while you are fi filing, as for Roach and Dace.
In fifiiing with a float for Chub, in warm weather, fifli
^t mid-water, in cool lower, and in cold at the ground*
CHAP,
Chap. XVIII. The Complete Anclsr. iSfj
CHAP. XVIIL
Of the Minnow, orPENK, oftbeLoACH,
and of tie BvLL-HEAV, ^r Miller's*
THUMB.
PiSCATOR.
THERE be alfo three or four other little
fi(h that I had almoft forgot, that are
all without fcales, and may for excel*
Icncy of meat be compared to any filh of greateft
value and largeft fize. They be ufually full of
eggs or fpawn all the months of fummer ; for
they breed often, as *tis obferved mice and many
of the fmaller four-footed creatures of the earth
do ; and as thofe, fo thefe, come quickly to their
full growth and perfection. And it is needful
that they breed both often and numeroufly, for
they be, befides other accidents of ruin, both a
prey and baits for other fifli. And firft, I (hall
tell you of the Minnow or Penk.
The Minnow (lath, when he is in perfeft fca*
fbn and not lick, which is only prefently after
fpawning, a kind of dappled or waved colour,
tike to a panther, on his fides, inclining to a
greenifh and fky-colour, his belly being milk-
white, and his back almoft black or blackifh.
He is a fharp biter at a fmall worm, and in hot
weather makes excellent fport for young anglers,
or boys, or women that love that recreation, and
in the fpring they make of them excellent Min-
fiow-tanfies i for being wafhed well in fait, and
their
il66 . Tht Complete Angle r. P»t f.
their heads and tails cut off, and their guts uken
out» and not walhed after, they prove excellent
for that ufej that is, being fried with yolks of
eggs, the flowers of cowQips, and of primrofes,
and a tittle tanfy-, thus ufed, they make adainty
di(h of meat.
The Loach is, as I totd you, a jaoft dainty
fifti i he breeds and feeds in little and clear fwifc
brooks or rills, and lives there upon the gravel,
and in the (harpeft ftreams : he grows not to be
ftbove a tinger long, and no thicker thaa. is fuit-
afaje CO that length. This
Loach
4s not unlike the fliape (^ the Eel : he liss «
-beard or wattles like a Barbel. He has two fins
' at his fides, four at his belly, and oiK-at his tails
he is dappled with many blade or brown fpotsj
■his mouih is Barbel-like under his nofe. This
lith (s ufually full of ^gs.or fpawji, and is by
CefnfnrtA other learned phyficians, commended
for great nourilhmcnt, aod to be very grateful
both
Ciiip. kVIII. The CoMPt^'fi AitottK. 16 f
btJth to the palate and ftomach of lick perfons 1
iie is to be nlhed for with a very fmall worm ac
jSie bottom, for he very feldom or never rifes
^bove the gravel, on which I told you he uftidiy
gets his living.
The Miller's-thumb, of Bull-head, is a fiffi of
no plcafing (hape. He is by Gefner compared
to the Sea-toad-fifh, for his fimilitude and ihape.
It has a head big and flat, much greater than
fuitable to his body ; a mouth very wide and
ufually gaping, tie is without teeth, but his
lips are very rpugh^muc^ like to a file; he hath
two fins^war toliis gills, which be roundifli or
crcftcd, two fins alfq ppder ;he belly, two on the
back^ one below the vent, and the fin of his tail is
round. Nature hath painted the body of this filh
with whitifh, blackifli, browhilh fpots. They
be ufuaUy full of eggs or fpawn all the fummer,
I niean'the females, and thofe eggs fwell their
vents almoft into the form of a dug. They be-
gin to f^awn about Jpril^ and, as I told you,
^awn fev^ral months in the fummer ; and * in
the
^ Since Waiun vrate^ there has been brought into Eng*
-haui, from Germafty$ a fpecies of fmall fifli, reiembline Carp
ID ibape and' colour, called Crucians; with which many
ponds are now. plentifully docked.
There has alfo been lately brought hither, fj'om China^
t\ipte beatitifalcreatures Gold and Silver Fifh ; the firft are
of an orange-colour, with very (hining fcales, and finely va-
riegated with blapk and dark brown ; the Silver Filh are of
the colour of filver tiffue'with fcarlet fins, with which colour
they are curio u^y marked in feveral parts of the body.
Thefe fiflf are ufually kept in ponds,, bafons, and fmall
refervoirs of water, to which they are a delightful ornament ;
and I have known a few of them' kept for years in a large
glafs yefTel like a punch-bowl, with fine gi^avel firewed at
the
t6S VTie Complete Angler.- PartT.
the wincer the Mlnnnow, and Loach, and Bull-
head dwell in the mud is the Eel doth, or we
know not where ; no more xhan we know where
the cuckow and fwallow, and other half-year-
birds, which firft appear to us. in April^ fpend
their fix cold, wiatei) melancholy months. This
BULIi-HEAI>
dors ufoally dwell and hide himfelf in holes, cr
amongft ftones in clear water; and in very hoc
days will lie a long time very ftlll, and fun him-
felf, and will be eafy to be fcen upon any flat
ftone, or any gravel -, at which time, he will fuf-
fer an angler to put a hook baited with a fmall
worm, very near unto his very mouth, and he
never rcfu^s to bite, nor indeed to be caught
tlie bottom ; they may be fo kept by frequently changing
the water, and feeding thsm with bread and gentlea.
Thofe who cao take more pleafure in angling for, than
in beholding them, which I confefs I could neverdo, tnay
catch them with gentles i but though coQly; they are btit
«oarft! food.
wilJl
Chap. XVlIL5'i^^ Complete Angler. ii6^
with the worft of anglers. Maitbiolus * com*
mends him much more for his tafte and nouridk-
ment, than for his fhape or beauty.
There is alfo a little fifh called a Sticklebag r a
filh without fcalesy but hath his body fenced with
feverat prickles. I know not where he dwells
in winter^ nor what he b good for in fummer,
but only to make fport for boys and women-
anglers, and to feed bthcr fi(h that be filh of
prey ; as Trouts in particular, who will bite at
him as at a Penk, and better,, if your hook be
rightly baited with him ; for he. may be fo baited
as his tail turning like the fail t£ a wind-mill,
will make him turn more quick than any Penk
or Miapow can. For note, that the nimble
turnmg of that or the Minnow, is the perfcftion
of Minnow-fifhing. To which end, if you
put your hook into his mouth and out at his
tail, and then having fii ft tied him with white
thread a little above his tail, and placed him after
fuch a manner on your hook as he is like to turn^
then few up his mouth to your line, and he is
like to turn quick, and tempt any Trout ; but
if he do not turn quick, then turn his tail a little
more or lefs towards the inner part, or towards
the fide of the hook, or put the Minnow or
Sticklebag a little more crooked or more ftrait
on your hook, until it will turn both true and
fall -, and then doubt not but to tempt any great
Trout that lies in a fwifc ftream. And the
Loach that 1 told you of, will do the like : no
bait is more tempting, provided the Loach be
not too big.
• I^itrus Andreas Matthtohsf bf Sienna, an eminent pliy-
ficnn of the fixteenth century, famoas fop his commen-
Hries qii fome of the writings of Diofcoridts.
And
i7Q ti>e CoMPLBtE Aft6t«il. i^artl;
And now, fcholar, with the help of this fincS
morning, and your patient atteotion^ I have (kid
all that my prefeht mempfy Will atfbrd mc, con-
oerning moft of the feveral fifh that are ufually
fiihed for in freOi waters.
VesaL But matter/ you have by your former
civility made me hop^, that you will make good
your promife, and fay fomething of the feveral
rivers that be of mo& note in this nation ; and
alfo of fi(b-ponds, and the ordering of them i
and do it 1 pray, good mafter, for I love any dif-
courfe of rivers, and fi(h ^d filhing, the tioxe
(pent in fuch difcourfe pafies away very plea*
iantly.
«MM^hMM*B^nMB.HMrf^ii^iiiialbi^iarta
CHAP. XIX.
Of feveral Rivers, and fimeObferouthnt
of Fish.
*
P I S C A T O R*
WELL, fcholar, finee the ways and
weather do both favour us, and that we
yet fee not l^ottenbam-crofs^ you (halt
fee ttiy willingnefs to fatisfy your defire. And
firft, for the rivers of this nation, there be, as
you may note out of Doftor tteyiitfs geography
and others, in number 325, but thofe of chiefeft
note he reckons and defcribes as foUoweth.
The chief is Tbamejis^ compounded of two
rivers, ^hame and Ijis ; whereof the former, ri-
ling, fooie what Jbeyond 'ithame in Buckingbatff/birei
<6 and
and the Utter near Cinnctfter in Gloucefterjbire^
mttt together about Ddrtbefter in Oxf^rdfi^irt y
tKe ifliie of which happy conjunction is the
ibam^^ or Thams\ hence it flieth betwixt Berks^
BuckingbamfinrCy ASddleffx^ Swrry^ Kent^ and
Effix^ and fo weddcth himfelf to the Kentijb
Medxzuiyy in the very jaws of the ocean r this
glorious river feelech the violence and benefit of
the fea more than any river in Eurcpty ebbing and
flowing twice a day more than fixty miles ^ abouE
whofe banks are fo many fair towns and princely
palaccSi that a German poet thus truly fpake :
31?/ Campos^ tSc.
Wefawfo many woods and princely how£rSy
Sweet fields J brave palaces^ and Jiately towers ^ •
Se many gardens dreft with curious care^ ^
^bat Thames witb royal Tiber may compare *r
2« The
• Though the current. opinion is, that the Thames had \\9
name from tfare conjun£lion of Thame and Ifist it plainly ap^
^ars that the IJis was always c^WtAThamesy or Terns ^ befoji^
itcame near the Tame. G\\y{oxi*sCamd. Edit. i753> P* 99>
And as to the head of the Thames although it is generafjjf
fuppofed to he in Oxfortijhirer Camden (whom we may fop-
pofe Walton followed) Brit. 315.. fays it is in Buckingham'
jhire.
But what (hall we fay to the following accouht, which
X/M«^ar/^ has adopted? ** Tame (faith Leland) fpringeth
•• out of the hills of Hertfordjhirey 2X a place called BuU
•* bourne, a few miles from Penlye^ (the houfe of a family of
•* gentlemen called Vemeys) it runneth from thence to
JyleJ^wry \ti Buckinghanifiire, and to Teime (a market-
town in Oxfordjhire^ whereuoto in^iveth the name] then
paffing under Wbatley- bridge ^ it coroeth to Dorchefter^
and hard by joineth with Ifisy or Oufe^ and from that
place joineth with it in name alio." Di^ionarium Topo^
graphicMm\K>Qt THAME.
Unfor.
27^ 5^ CoMPLEtE Angler. PartL"
2, The fecond river of note is SabrtMj or
Sivern : it hath its beginning in Plinilifmnon'biU
in Montgomeryjhirej and his end feven mile$
from Brt/tol, walhing in the mean fpace the walls
of Shrewjburyy IVorcefier^ and Gloucejier^ and di-
vers other places and palaces of note.
3. Trent^ fo called for thirty kind of fifhes
that are found in it, or for that it receiveth thirty
leiler rivers, who having his fountain in Staf*
fordjhire^ and gliding through the counties of
Nottingham^ Lincobi, Leicefter^ and Tork^ aug-
mcnteth the turbulent current of Humber^ the
moft violent ftream of all the ifle. This Hum-^
her is not, to fay truth, a diftindt river, having
a fpring-head of his own, but it is rather the
Unfortanately Leland^i manafcript has lofl twenty-fiire
leaves, in that part of it where one might expert to find thi»
paiTage. Bat the following extract, from an author of great
authority, and who had a feat in the county of Hertford^
will determine the queflion.
**, The Thame (the moft famous river of England) iflues
** from three heads, in the parifh of Tring ; the firft rifcs
** in an orchard, near the par(bnage-houfe ; the fecond ia
'* a place called Dundell\ and the other proceeds from a
'* fpring named Bulbourne\ which laft ftream joins the
other waters at a place called l^e-w-mill^ whence all,
gliding together in one current, through Puttenbam ia
this county, pafs by Aylejbury (a fair market- town in
Buckingham/hire) to Etherop (an ancient pleafant feat of
that noble family of the Dormers, earls of Caernar<von)
and crofting that county by Notley^ahbt^ to Tbame, (a
market- town in Oxfordfoire, which borrows its nanue
from this river) hafteneih away by Whately- bridge to
Dorchefter, (an ancient epifcopal feat) and thence
congratulates the Ifis ; but both emulating each other
** for the name, and neither yielding, they are cOmpli-
•« cated by that of Thamifis.^* Sir Henry Chaunc/s Hifto-
jTical Antiquities of Hertfordjhire, p. 2. See alfo the later
maps of Herifordjhire and Budinghamjhirt*
I mouthy
CC
<(
CC
«C
^ Chap. XIX. 7^ CoMPtETE Angler. 273
mouth, or jEftttorium^ of divers rivers here con-
fluent and meeting together j namely, yourJD^-
^ent^ and efpecially of Oi^e and Trent ; and (as
the Danaw^ having receiv^ into its channel, the
river Bravus^ Savus^ Tikifcusj and divers others)
i^hangeth his name into this of Humherabus^ as
the cdd geographers call it.
4* ikfeJw^y, a KiHtiJh river, famous for har«
boufing^the royal navy.
5. uweid^ the north-eaft bound of England^
on whofe nprtbern banks is feated the ftrong and
impregnable town of Berwick.
6. Tjne^ famous fbr Nexvcaftle^ and her inesc-
hauftible coal-pits *. Thefe and the reft qf
principal note, are thus comprehended in one of
Mr. Drayton*^ fonnets.
K)wr floods^ queen^ Thames, forjbips and fwatp
is crown* dy
Andftatefy Severn /w berjbcre is praised
The cry/ial Trent for fords andfifh renowffd^
And Avon's fame to Albipn'j cliffs is rais^d^
^ It would have been befide the anthor's pBrpo(e» andf
indeed inconfiflent with the brevity of his work, to have given
fuch a defcription and biftory of the rivers of this kingdom
'as (bme readers would wifh for : fuch, however, may find^
in Selden*^ notes on the Polyolhion^ a great variety of curious
and ufeful learning on the Aibjedl. And it were to be wifh'd
that fome perfon, fkilled like Leland^ Camden^ Lamharde^
or that excellent perfoa above-mentioned, in theanciqaitiea
of this country, if any fuch there are, would undertake the
delightful taik of furveying them, and giving their hiflory*
In the jnean while we would recommend to our angler
the ufe of a map of the county where he fi^t^t^ ; hy meansr
whereof he may fee the rivers contained in it, with their
courfcs ; which is, perhap9^ as Biuch as ft mere angler need
know about ^e taatter.
T Cariegiort
274 ^^ Complete Angler. Partt*
Carlegiort Chcfter nraunts her bofy Dee,
York mdf^ winders of her 0^^{t can teUj
The Peak her Dove, wbo/e banks fo fertih he,:
And Kent wittfaji her Midway doth extellj^
Cotfwold commends ber Ifis to tbe Tame,
OumortberHbordersbaafl of Tvftt^^s fair floods
Our weftem parts extol their Wilfy'j/srm^,
And the old Lea brags of the Damlh blood *.
Thefe
<#
LEE fluf. Lygaii, Sfaxon. fj^r. Mar. Lea^To-
^* lydoro. The name of the water which (ruiinyn betwene
fTart and Lendo^^ devydcthe, for a great part of the way,
Effex and Hertfordjhyre, It begynnethe near a place
called Wbitcburche^ and from thence, paffinge by Herf^
^ fofd^ Ware and Waltbam^ openethe into the Tbamfit at
** Ham in Effex ; wheare the place hr at this day» called
** LeeMottibe. It hathe, of longe tyme, borne ^eiMls from
'* London % 20 miles towarde the head ; ^r* in tyme of
'* Kinge AJfrede^ the Danes entered Leymoutbe^ and fortified
*^ at a place adjoyninge to this ryver, 20 myles from hon-'
*' don ; wtefe, by fbrtuiie« king Alfrede paffinge by, efpied
'< that the channell of the ry ver might be in fucbe forte
^ weakened^ that they (hould want water to returne withe
*' their ihippes ; he caofed therefore the water to be abated
*^ by two greate trenches, and fettinge tbe Londoners opom
*^< thetm, he made them batteil ; wherein tbey loH four oF
their capitaines, and a greate nomber of their common
fouldiers, the reft flyinge into the caftle which they had
• **^ builte. Not kinge after they weare io preffed, that they
^ forfoke all, and lefte their ihippes as a pray to the Lom-
' ^< dohersf which breakinge fome, and barninge other, coa-
, <« veyed the reaft to London, This caftle* for the diftance
<* might feme Hertforde\ but it was fome other upon that
'* banke, which had no longe coBtinuance ; for Edivard the
*< elder, and fon of this Alfredt^ builded Hertford not longe
■ ** after." Vid, Lambarde'^ Di^ionarium Topograpbicum.
Voce LEE. Drayton'i PofyoJbion^ Song the twelfth, and
' the ffrft note thereon.
* Other authors^ who confirm this fa£^, alfo ^dd, Thatt-
for the purpoie aforefai4 he opened- the woath of the river*
«(
Chap. XIX. Tie Complete AKCLEk. tys
Thefc obfervations ai^e out of learned l)r.
tJeylin^ and my old deceafed fritnd Michael DNy^
ion ; and becaufc yoii fay, you love fucH dif-
courfes as thefe of rivers and fifli and fifhing, I
love you the better, and love the more to impart
them to you : nc^crthelefs, fcholar, if I Ihould
begin but to nante the feveral forts of flrange
fifti
Vli, Sir William Ddgdale^ ffij^ory rf the emianJthi and
jtainikg thi fenty and ^ir John Spclman'x Life of Alfred
thi Grtdti puhhfited by Hearne, in 8vo, 1 709. the perufal
of which laft named author will leave the reader in very
little doabt but that thefe trenches are the very fame that
now branch off from the river between Templt- Mills and
OU-Fordi and» croffing the Stratford road, enter the Thames
^gether with the principal ilream, a little below BlacknuaU*
• It is hardly fnppofeable> that every reader of this work is
acquainted with the chara^er of that excellent prince, whofe
wildom and policy are above celebrated. Let us there-
fore flop a moment, to contemplate that venerable and
amiable affemblage of regal apd private virtues^ which has
hitherto diflinguiihed his name : and when we are told^
that he was the founder of that excellent conilitution, which
«ven foreigners confefs to be the belt formed in the wotld for
the purpoies of government ; that he ellabliflied, if not in-
Vented, the method of trial hy juries ; that he huilt many cities
and churches ; reftored, if not founded, theuni'verjity ofOx^
ford, and re-edified almoft . e'very monafiery in his dominions i
x\k2X he fought no lefs than fifty foe hat ties, including fea-
fights ; that he was pious, nxiife, chafte, temperate, hra<uei
learned, munificent, and merciful i and that he delivered this
country from the infupportahle tyranny of the Danes ; Who caa
refle£k on his memory without gratitude and admiration !
Afferius Mene'venfis, his hiftorian, tells us, that, ** foe
" dividing his time, and keeping an account of it, he caufecr
•* wax-candlesy to the number of fix, to be made, each of
** them twelve inches long, on w'hich he caufed the inches
to be marked ; and having found that otieof them burni
juft four hours, he committed them to the care of the
keepers of bk cbap'el, who^ from timo Co tintte^ gavehini
T a •* ftpticc
it
§€
2^6 7'he CoMPtETE ANCtFit. Parti.
&fh tfiac are ufually taken in many of thofe rivers-
that run into the fea, I might beget wonder ii»
you, or unbelief, or both v and yet I will ven*-
ture to tell you a real truth, concerning one lately
differed by Dr. W}>artonj a roan of great learn-
ing and experience, and of equal freedom to
communicate it ; one that loves me and my arty,
one to whom I have been beholden for many of
the choiceft obfervations that I have imparted to
you *. This good man, that dares do any thing;
rather than tell an untruth, did, I fay, tell me^,.
be lately di defied one (banged,, and he thus
defcribed it to me.
^ The Bfli was' ahnoft a yard broad, and
^* twice that length ; his mouth wide enough to
" receive or take into it the head of a man, his^
^ ftomach feven or eight inches broad : he is of
*^ a (low motion, and ulually lies or lurks clofe
^ i» the mud, and has a moveable ftring on his
*^ notice how the hours went. But^ as Fn wiody weathef
^ the candles were wafted by the imprefion of the air onp
^* the flasie» he, to* remedy thi» inconvenience, invented
" lanthornSf there then being no glafs in bis dominions."
The fiune anthor hai given os tire foUewing pleafant &orf
of him, which cooclades this note.^
Scding his fubjedls fly the enemy^ in the midH of hi»
country, he took the di^uife of a common foldier* and
committed himfelf to one who had the keeping of the
king's cows ; whofe wife having one day fet a cake of
bread to bake before the fire, where the king fat trim-
^' mipg his bow and arrows, the cake burnt, which the
kmg heeded' not, till the woman, enraged at his inatten*
tion, with all the fury of a good houfewife, called hior
an idle Itth^r \ and gave him to underhand, that if be
expeSfid to eaty be muft work" Vide Spelman'/ Lfft of"
Wilfred aforefaid,
* See an account of him^ page 19^
«^ head
€1
M
•<
•«-
tf
(C
C%j^. XIX. The CoMPi-ErE Angier. 277
^< head about a Ipan, or near unto a quarter of
«( a yard long, by the moving of which, which
^* is his natural bait, when he lies clofe and
^* unfeen in the miad, he draws other fmaller fi&
*^ {o clofe to him, that he can fuck them into
^* his mouth, and fo devours and digefts xhern*'
9>
And« fcholar^ <lo not wonder at this, for be*
fides the credit of the relator you are to note^
many <of thefe, aad fifiies which are of the like
4Uid more unusual ibapes, are very often taken
on the mouths of our fea- rivers, and on the fear
fliore^ and this will be no wonder to any- that
have travelled Egypt^ where 'tis known the fa-
mous river Nilus does not only breed fi(hes that
yet want names, but, by^the overflowing of that
river, and the help of the fun^s heat on the fat
Aitne which that river leaves on the banks, when
it falls back into its natural channel, fuchftraage
ififii and beafts are alfo bred, that no man can
give a name to, as KmIsus^ ia his Scpham^ and
others, have obferved.
But wtutber am 1 ftrayed m tliis diicourfe ? {
iwill end it by teUing you, that at the mouth of
foroc of thefe rivers of ours. Herrings arc fo
plentiful, as namely, near to Tarmoutb in Nor-
folk^ and in the weft-country. Pilchards fo very
f>lentiful, as you will wonder to read what o^ir
learned Camden relates of them in bis Briianma^
p. 178, 186.
Well, fcholar, 1 wiH flop here, and tell you
what by reading and confercoce I have obferved
concerning fifli-ponds.
T 3 CHAP,
278 7j&« Complete Angler. Fff^t.
CHAP. XX.
Of Fish* Ponds, and bow to order them. '
DOCTOR LehauUy the learned French-
tnan^ in his large difcourfc of Matfo^
Rujlique, gives this diredion for makiog
of fifti-ponds i 1 fhall refer yoq to bim to read
it at l^rge, but I think } (ball coptra£jt it, and
yet make it as qfefuL
He advtfeth, that when yo.u have drarned the
ground, and naade the earth 6rai where the head
bf the pond mufl: be, that you mu(l: then in thac
place, drive in two or three rows of oak or elna
piles, which (hould be fcorched in the fire, or half
burnt before they be driven into the earth ; . for
being thus ufed, it preferves tben^ much loi^ep
from rotting : and having done fo, lay fago^ or
bavins of fmaller wood betwixt them, and tbea
earth betwixt and above ih^mj and then
having firfl very well rammed them and the
earth, ufe another pile in like manner as the firfl:
were : and note, that the fecond pile is to be of or
about the height that you intend to make your
fluiceor flood gate, or the vent that70U intend
dallconvey the overflowings of your pond in
any flood that (hall endanger the breaking of the
pond-dam.
Tiicn he advifes that you plant willo\ws or
pwlers about it, or both, and then cafl in baviii^
in fome places not far from the fide, and in the
'^oft fandy places, for fjfti both to fpawn upon,
and
t .t
Chap/XX; 1I*he Complete Angler. 179
and to defi^rrd them and the young fry from the
inany fi(h, and allb from vermin that lie at
watch to deftroy them, efpecially the fpawn of
the Carp and Tench, when ^tis left to the mercy
of ducks or vermin^
He and DuiravhiSj and all others advife, that
you make choice of fuch a place for your pond,
that it may be refrefhed with a little rill, or with
rain-water running or falling into it 4 by which
fiih are more inclined both to breed, and are alfo
refrefhed and fed the .better, and do prove to be
cf a much fweeter and more pleafant taile. .
To which ^nd it is obfcrved, that fuch pools
as be large and have mod: gravd, and (hallows
where fifti may fport themfclves, do aflFord fi(h
of the pureft rafte. And note, that inall pools
it is bcft for fi(h to have fomc retiring place ; as
namely hollow banks, or (helves, or roots of
trees to keep them from danger ; and, when they
think Bt, from the-extceam heat of fummer ; as
alfo, from the extremity of cold in winter. And
note, that if many trees be growing about your
pond^ the leaves thereof falling into the water^
make it nau(i?ous to the fiflu and the &(h to be fo
to the cater of ic
^Tis noted that the Tench and Eel love n^ud,
and the Carp loves gravelly ground, and in the
hot months to feed on grafs : you are to cleanfe
your pond, if you intend either profit or plea-
sure, once every three or four year^, efpecially
ibme ponds, and then let it lie dry fix or twelve
months, both to kill the water- weeds, as water.-
lilies, catidocks, feate and bulruihcs that
i^ceed (there ^ and alfo that as thefe die for want
T 4 - of
tSo ^e Complete Ai^ctER. Ptrel.
of water^ fo grafs may grow in the ponds* bot^
totii, which Carps will cat greedily in all the hot
months if the pond be clean. The letting your
pond dry and (owing oats in the bottom is alfo
good, for the fifli feed the fafter: and being
fometime let dry, you may obferve what kihd
of fifh cither incrrafes or thrives beft^ in tliac
yrater ; for they differ much both in dieir breed*
mg and feeding.
LebauU alfo advifes, that if your ponds be
not very large and roomy, that you often feed
your fifli by throwing into them chippings of
bread, curds, grains, or the entrails of chickens,
or of any fowl or beaft that you kill to feed your*
felves ; for thefe afford fifh a great relief. He
fays that frogs and ducks do much harm, and
devour both the fpawn and the young fry of all
filh, efpecially of the Carp. And I haye, be?
fides experience, many teftimonies of it ; butX^*
bauli allows water-frogs to be good meat, efpcr
cially in forhe months, if they be fat ; but yoif
are to note, that he is a Fr^lmatt^ and we
Englijh will hardly believe him, though we know
frogs are ufually eaten in his country : however^
he advifes to deflroy them and king-fifiiers out
of your ponds; and he advifes, not to fuflTer
much (hooting at wild-fowl, for that he fays
affrightens, and harms and deftroys the fi(h.
Note, that Carps and Tench thrive and breed
1t>e(t when no other 6(h is put with them into the
fame pond ; for all other fi(h devour their fpawn,
or at lead the greateft part of i|t. And note,
that clods of grafs thrown into any pond, feed
any Carps in fuinmer \ and that garden-earth
Chap. XX. 7^ Complete Angler. 2S1
and parflcy thrown into a pond, recovers and re-
freilies the fick fi(b. And note, that when yoii^
ilore your pond, you are to put into it; two or
three melters for one fpawner, if you put them
into a breeding pond \ but if into a iiurle-pond,
or feeding-pond, in which they will not breed»
then no care is to be taken, whether there be
moft male or female Carps *•
It is obfervfd, that the bcft ponds to brecci
Carps are thofe that be ftoney or fandy, and are
warm, and free from wind, and that are not
deep, but have willow-trees and grafs on their
fides, over which the water does fometimcs flow :
and note, that Carps do more ufually breed in
marle-pits, or pits that have clean clay bottoms,
or in new ponds, or ponds that lie dry a winter
feafon, than in old ponds, that be full of mud
and weeds.
Well, fcholar, I have told you the fubftance
of all that either obfervation or difcourfe, or a
diligent furvey of Duhraroius and Lebault hath
told me ; not that they in their long difcourfes
have not faid more, but the moft of the reft arc
i(^ common obfervations, as if a man Ihould tell a
* Theaothor has, p. 179. on the aathority of Gefner^
'told iM, that a Carp had been known to live, in the PaU--
iinaie, above an hundred years. The fa6l, as related by
Gefiier, is Co curious as to deferve a more particular men*
ticn^ and is as follows :
*' In the year 1497* a fiih was caught in a pond near
** Hajiprum in Suabia^ with a brafs ring at bis gills, in
•* which were engraved thefe words : I am tbefrftfi/h which
** Frederick the Secondt governor of the ivorld^ fut into this
*• fond^ the fifth of OSohtr 1233** By which it appears^
that this £(h had then lived two handrcd and fixty odd
years.
good
%ii TTf^ Complete AwcLERt Parti.
good arithmetician, that twice two is four. I
will therefore put an end to this difcourfe, and
we will here (it down and reft us ^.
CHAP. XXI.
DireSHons for making of a Line, and for the
colouring of both Rod and Line.
Pi S C AT O R.
WELL, fcholar, I have held you too
long about thefe cadis, and fmaller filht
and rivers, and fi(h ponds, and myr
fpirits are almoil fpent, and lb I doubt is your
patience-, but being we are now almoft at 7W-
iinbamy where I firft met you, and where. we
are
• As the method of ordering fifti -ponds is now very well
Icnown, and there are few books of gardening but What
give fonie directions about it, it is hoped the reader will
think the following quotation irom Bowlker fufficient, hy
way of annotation on this chapter.
** When you intend to Hock a pool with Carp or TencK
•* makea clofc ^thering-hedge acrofs the head of the'pocd
*< about a yard diilance of the dam, and about three feet
" above the water, which is the beft refuge for them I know
** of, and the only method to preferve pool-fi(h; becaufe if
j"* any one attempts to rob the pool, muddies the water, or
•' diilurbsit with nets, moll of the filh, if not all, immA*
^' diately fly between the hedge and the dam, to preferYc
** thcmfelves ; and in all pools, where there are fuch (he)terA
'*^ and (hades, the ifh delight to fwiia backwards and fox-
'** wards, through and round the fame, rubbing and fportin^
** thcmfelves therewith. This hedge ought to be made
** chiefly of orl«, and not too dofc, the boughs long and
** ftraggUn^
it
Chap. XXI. STi^CoMPLETE Angler. 285
to part, I will lofc no time, but give you a
little direftion how to make and order your
lines, and to colour the hair of which you m^kt
** ilraggling tQ>yards the dam, by which means you may feed
^* and fatten them as you pleafe. The befl baits for drawing
** them together at.firft, are, nuggQts or young wafps ; the
f* next are, bullock's- brains aiui lob-worms chopped toge-
V ther^ and thrown into the pools in large quantities, aboiic
^ two hours before fun-fet, fummer and winter. By thus
ufing thefe ground-baits, once a day for a fortnight toge-
ther, the fi(h will come as conftantly and naturally to the
" place, as cattle to iheir fodder ; aud to fatisfy your curio-
*' iity, and coij^vince you herein, after you have baited the
f* pool for fome time, as dirc6led, take about the quantity
'' of a two-penny loaf of wbeaten bread, cut it into flicea
f and wet it ; then throw it into the pool where you had
^* baited, and the Carp will feed upon it: after you have
f ufed the wet bread three or four mornings, then throw
** fome dry bread in. which will lie on the tap of the water :
*' and if ycjfu watch, out of fight of the filh, you will pre-
** fently fee them fwim to it and fuck it in. I look upon
f wheaten bread to be the bed food for them, though barley
" or oaten bread is very good. If there be Tench and
** Pearch in the fame pond, they will feed upon the four
f* former baits, and not touch the bread. Indeed there b
V no pool-iifh fo fhy and nice as a Carp. When the water
*' is ^illurbed, Carp will fly to the fafeft ihelter they can ;
" which I one day obferved, when aflifting a gentleman
** to fifli his pool; for another perfon difturbed the water,
V by throwing the cafting-net, but caught never a Carp ;
V whereupon two or three of us ftrippcd, and went into the
f * pool, which was provided with fuch a fort of a hedge in
" it as is before defcribed, whither the Carp had fled for
1' fafety ; then flftiing with our hands on both fides the
** hedge, that is one on either fide, we catched whatquan-
V tity of Carp was wanting." Bonxjlkery 6z.
The reader may alfo confult a book publifbed about the
year 1720, intitled, ^ difcourfe of Fijb and Fijh ponds ^ by
a perfon of honour ; who, I'have been told by one that
knew him, was the Hon. Roger Nc.thy author of Tlfc Life
of the Lord Keeper Guilford. See p. 127.
your
^t^ ?Zi^ Complete Angler* Parti.
your lines, for that is very needful to be known
of an angler; and alfo how to paint your rod,
cfpecially your top, for a right-grown top is a
choice commodity, and Ihould be prcfervcd
frbm the water foaking into it, which makes ic
in wet weather to be heavy, and fi(h iU-favour-
edly, and not true, and alfo it rots quickly for
want of painting : and I think a good top is
worth preferving, or I had not taKea care to
keep a top above twenty years *•
But
* The author having faid nothing about chafing or
4nakiD£ rods in any part of his book^ it was thought pro-
per to infert the following directions. For fifliing at the
dottom. whether with a running- line or float, the reed or
cane-rod is, on account of its lightnefs and elaflicity» the
beily efpecially if you angle for thofe fifh which bite but
tenderly, as Roach and Dace ; and of thefe there are roda
that put up» and make a walking- flick ;^ there are others,
in many joints, that put up all together in a bag, and 4lre
therefore called bag- rods; thefe lau are very ufeful to travel
with, as they take up but little room. Next to thefe is the
iiafel, but that is more apt to warp than the cane : Ihefe,
as alfo excellent fly-rods, are to be had at all the fiihing-
tackle ftiops in London^ and therefore need no particular
clefcription ; only be careful, whenever you befpeak a^rod
cf reed or cane, that the workman does not rafp down into
the bark whfch grows round the joints, a fault which the
makers of rods are often guilty of; the confequence whereoif
is, that the rod is thereby made weaker at the joints than
clfewhere ; and there being no bark to repel the wet, ic
ibon rots, and, whenever yoa hook a large £(lr, certainly
breaks.
But if you live in the country, and are forced to make
your own rods, take thefe directions :
Between the laiter end of No'vember and Chriftnuu^ whet
the fap is gone down into the roots of trees, gather the«
firaited hafels youcan find for flocks, and let them, -at the
greater end, be about .nn inch or more in diameter : at the
fame time gather flioots of a lefs iize for middle -pieces and
tops ; tic them together in a bundle, and let them lie on a
dry
Chap. XXI. TZ^CoMTPLETE Anglbr. 2^5
But firft for your line. Firft, hotc, that you
dre to take care that your hair be round and
clear, and free from galls or fc3b$^ or frets ; for
a well-chofen, even, clear, round hair, of a kind
of glafs-Golour, will prove as ftrong as th^ee un-
cvei>
ity loor ; at the ead of ffteen montks matcli them together,
and to the (lender end of the tops> aAer catting^ off about
eight or ten inches, whip a fine taper piece of whalebone of
that length ; then cat the endi of the ftock, the middle-piec«
and the top with a long flant, fo that they may join~exa£ll7
10 each other, and fpread fome (hoemaker's-Waxy very thin,
ever the flants ; bind them neatly with ftrong waxed thread :
and lailly, 6x a ftrong Ybop of horfe-hair to the whalebone 9
kt the rod, fo made, lie a week to fettle before you ufe it t
ia this manner alA> yoo are to make a ily-rod ;. only ob*
&rve, that the latter muft be much flenderer from the end
•f the ftock than the former.
But, for the neaieft fly-rod yow can make, get a yellows
whole-deal board |hat is free from knots, cat off about
ieven feet of the beft end, and faw it into fquare breadths ^
kt a joiner plane off the angles, and make it perfi;£tlyroand^
a little tapering, and this will ferve for the ftock : then piece
to it a fine ftrait hafel, of about Qx feet long, and then a
delicate piece of fine-grained yew, planed round likr aa
arrow, and tapering, with whalebone as before, of about
two het in length : there is no determining precifely the
kngth of a fly-rod, bat one of fourteen feet is as long as
can be well managed with one hand. ^ To colour the ftock^
dip a feather in aqua fbrtis, and, with your hand, xhafe
M into the deal, and it will be of a ci an am on. colour.
But before yon attempt this fort of work,^ you muft be
able to bind neatly, and faften oft\ for which diredion^
are given in the notes on Chap.. XVI T.
When the feaibn is over^ and you have done with your
vods, take them to pieces, and bind the. joints to a ftrait
pole, and let them continue fo bound till the feafon returns
ibr uflng them again. See more dire£lions about the fly-
tod. Part II. Chap. V.
Rods for Barbel, Carp, and other targe fifli, ihould be of
hafel, and proportionably ftrongci than tho& for jtoaclk
and
a86 . 7i&^ Complete Ancler. Partfi
even fcabby hairs, that are ill chofen, and full of
galls or unevcnnefs. You (hall feldotn find a
black hair but it is round, but many white are flat
and uneven ; therefore if you get a lock of right,
round, clear, glafs-colour hair, make much of it«
.And for making your line, obfervc this rule ;
firft let your hair be clean walhed ere you go
about to twift it: and then chufe not only the
cleared hair for it, but hairs that be of an equal
bignefs, for fuch do ufually ftretch all together,
and Dace : and note, that for fly-filhing the bamboo-cane
is excellent. Screws to rods are not only heavy, and apt
to be out of repair, bat they are abiblotely unneceflary ;
and the common way of inserting one joint in another is
fufficiently fecure, if the work be true.
Our forefathers were wont to purfue even their amafe-
ments with great formality. An angler of the L|ll age mad
have his Hfhing-coat, which, if not black, was, :at leaft» of
a very dark colour ; a black velvet cap, like thofe which
jockeys now wear, only larger, and a rod with a ftock as
lone as a halbert ; and thus equipped* would he (lalk
/orth with the eyes of a whole neighbourhood upon him.
But in thefe later days bag-rods have been invented,
which the angler may eaiily conceal, and do not proclaim
to all the world where he is going : thofe for float-fifhing
jire now becon>e common,! but this invention has lately been
extended to rods for fiy-fiihing ; and here follo\^s a de-
fcription of fuch a neat, portable, and ufeful one, as no
angler, that has once tried it, will ever be without.
Let the joints be four in number, and made of hiccapy,
or fome fuch very tough wood, and two feet four inches in
length, the largefl joint not exceeding half an inch in
thicknefs. The top mud be bamboo fliaved ; and for the
ftock let it be of a(h, full in the grafp, of an equal length
with the other joints, and with a ftrong ferrel at the fmaller
end, made to receive the large joint, which muft be weH
ihouldered, and fitted |o it with the utmoft exaftnefs/
This rod will go into a bag, and lie very well concealed
in a pocket, in the lining of your coat on the left-lide,
made llrait on purpofe to receive it.
and
Chap, XXI. Tbf Complete Angler. 28^7
:and break all togetber, which hairs of an un-
equal bignefs never do, but break fingly, and
fo deceive the angler that trufts to thetn.
When you have twifted your links, lay them
-in> water for a quarter of an hour ac leaft, and
then twift them over again before you tie themf
into a line : for thofe Chat do not lo» ihall ufu^
ally find their Ime to have a hair or two (hrink^
and be fhorter than the reft at the firft fifhing
with it, which is fo much of the ftrength of the
line loft for want of firft watering it» and theo
re-twifting it ; and this is moft vifible in a feven-^
bair line, one of thofe which hath always a black
hair in the middle *.
And
^ Yotrr fine, whether it be a runnhtg-Iine, or for fioat-
Hfkingt had beft be of hair, unlefs yon iifh for Barbel,
and then it muft be of flrong filk ; and the latter mad be
prc^rtioned to the general fize of the £(h you expedl';
always remembering, that the fingle hair is to be pre-
ferred for Roach or Dace-filhing i bnt the fly -line- is to be
very flrong, and, for the greater facility in throwing,
ibould be eighteen or twenty hairs at the top, and fo dt-
miniOiing infenfibly^to the hook. There are lines now to
be had, at the Efhing-tackle (hops, that have no jointr,
but wove in one piece.
But notwithftanding this, and other improvement9>» per-
haps, fome may dill chufe to make thieir own lines ; m
which cafe, if they prefer thofe twifted with the fingers,
they need only obferve the rules given by the author for
that purpofe : but, for greater neatnefs and expedition, I
would recommend an engine lately invented, which is now
to be had at almoft any fifhing-tackle (hop in London ; h
confifts of a large horizontal wheel, and three ve^y Ihiall
ones, inclofed in a bra^ box about a quarter of an inch
thick, and two inches in diameter ; the-axis of each of the
fmall wheels is. continued through the nnder-fide of the^
box, and is formed into a hook : by means of a ftrong
fcrew it may be fixed in any poft or pahirion, and is {ti \%k
motion by a fmftU winch io-the^ceatre of the box*
To
288 ?'i&^ CoMFLKTE Akolbr. Part 1
And for dyeing of your baics, do it thus :
take a pint of flrong ale, half a pound of foot,
and a little quantity of the juice of walnut-
tree leaves^ and an equal quancky of allum i
put
To twtft Hoki with ihtf tagioe, tak^ as aany hain as yM
Intend each (hall cpnfift of, and, dividmg them into three
{larts, tie each parcel to a bit of fine twice, about iix inches
ongt doubled, and pat throagh the aforefaid hooks; then
take a piece of lead^ of a conical figore, two inches high«
and two in diameter at the bafe, with a hook at the apex,
or point ; tie yoar three parcels of hair into one knot, and
to this, by the hook, hang the weight.
Laftly, Take a common bottle-cork» and cut into the
fides, at equal di (lances, three grooves ; and {facing it fo as
to receive each diviiion of hair, begin to twift : you will find
the link begin to twift with great evennefs at w lead ; as it
grows tighter, (hift the cork a little upwards; and when
the whole is fufficiently twifted, take out the cork, and tie
the link into a knot ; and fo proceed till you have twified
links fufiicient for your line, obferving to IcflTen the num-
ber of hairs in each link in fuch proportion as that the line
nay be ^aper. See the engine, Plate- X. Fig. 7. Fig. $«
is the form of the cork.
When you ufe the fly, you will find it necefiary to con^
tinne your line to a greater degree pf finenefs ; in order to
which, fuppofing the line to be eight yards in length, fafien
a piece or three or four twifted luks, tapering till it be-
comes of the fize of a fine grafs, and to the end of this fix'
your hook -link, which ihonld be either of very fine grafs,
or filk-worm gut. A week's pradlice well enable a learner
to throw one of thefe lines ; and he may lengthen it, by a
yard at a time, at the greater end, till he Can throw fifteen
yards neatly ; till when he is to reckon himfelf but a novice.
Fox the colour, you muft be determined by that of the
river you fi(h in : but 1 have found that a line of the colour
^►f pepper and fait, when mixed, will fuit any water*
Many inconveniencies attend the ufe of twilled hairs for
yoor hook-line ; fee Part II. Chap. V. Si Ik -worm gut is
both fine and very ftrong, but then it is apt to fray ; though
fki*.may, in fpme meafure, be prevented by waxing it weU»
Chap. XXI. Jl'^" Complete Angler. 289
put thcfe together into a pot, pan, or pipkin, and
boil them half an hour ; and having fo done, let
it cool ; and being cold, put your hair into it,
and there let it lie; it will turn your hair to be a
kind of water or glafs-colour, or greenilh, and
the longer you let it lie, the deeper coloured it
will be ; you might be taught to make man7
other colours, but it is to little purpofe -, for
doubtlefs the water-colour, or glafs-coloured hair^
is the moft choice and mod ufeful for an angler ^
but let it not be too green. ^^.
But if you defire to colour hair gcrener, then
do it thus: take a quart of fmall ale; half a
pound of allum ; then put thefe Jnto a pan, or
pipkin^ and your hair into it with them ; then
tndiant or fea-grafs, makes excellent hook-lmes ; and
Ihoogh (bme objed to it, as being apt to grow brittle, and
toilink in uiing, with proper management it is /the beft
material for the parpofe yet known, efpecially if ordered
m the following manner :
Take as many of the fined you can get, as you pleafe, put
them into any velTel, and pour therein the fcummed fat of
a pot wherein freih, but by ao means fait meat has been
boiled ; when they have lain three or four hours, take them
out one by one, and dripping the greafe off with your finger
and thumb, but do not wipe them, (Iretch each grafs as
long as it will yield, coil them up in rings, aad lay them
by, and you will find them become near as fmall, full as
round, and much ftronger than the bed fingle hairs you
tan get. To preferve them moid, keep them iil a piece
of bladder well oiled, and, before you ufe them, let thent
foak about half an hour in water; or, in your walk to the
river-fide, put a length of it into your mouth.
If your grafs is coarfe, it will fall heavily in the water^
txii fczrc away the fi(h ; on which account, gut has the ad-
vantage. But, after all, if yottr grafs be fine and rounds'
it 13 the beft thing you can ufe.
U pul
put it upoB' a* fire, and let it boil foftly for half
an hour \ and eheiivtake out your hair, and kt
k dry v andf having fo done, then take a pa&-
<k o£ water,, and put into it two handfub c^
narigolds,. and cover is wkh a tiie, %» what
•you think, fifi, and fet it again on the fire^
where it is io boil agatn^ foftly for half an hou%
about which time the fcum will turn yellow ;^
then put into it half a pound, of copperas, beaten^
fmall, aod with. it the hair 'that you intend to
colour f. then let thei haif be boiled foftly tiH
l^ftlf the liquor be wafted;, and then let ic cooL
three or four hours, with your hair in tt r and^
you aie to obferve,. that the more €(^>peras^
you put into it, the gpeener it will be; but
^doubtlefs,. the pale green is. befr: but if you.
define yellow hair, which: \» only *good whetv
the weeds rGt^ then put in the mxat marigolds^
and abate mod of the copperas^ or leave it
quite out, and take a. little v^digreafe inftead
of it.
This for eofouring^ your Kaiir. Mtid as foB
painting your rod, which muft be m oil, yoa
mud Brit make a fize with glue and water boil-
, cd together until the glue be diiTolved, and the
ilze of a lye colour ; then ftrike your fize upot^
the wood with a brittle,, or a brufh, or pencil,,
whilft it is hot;, that being quite dry, take
white*lead, and a little red -lead, and a Uttk^
coaU black, fomucbas^ all together will mak^
an afh'Colour; grind thcfe all together with
llnreed-oil ; let ic be thick, and lay it thin x^ovk
the wood with a br^ofla or pencil; this do for th^
ground of any colour tp Uc upon woodv
1 For
Chap. XXI. ne Complete A holer. 29^
For a green : take pink and verdigreafe, and
grind them together in linfeed-oil, as thin as
you can well grmd it ; then lay it fmoothly on
with your brulh, and drive it thin \ once doing,
far the moft part will Arvc^ if you lay it well:;
Md if twice, be fure your iirfl^ colour be tho-
roughly dry before you lay on a fecond.
Wdl, fcholar, having now taught you to
paint your rod, and we having (till a <nile. to
ToiUnbam-highHrofs^ I will, as we walk towards
it, in the cool (hade of this fweet honeyfuckle
hedge, mention to you fome of the thoughts and
joys that liave pofleft my foul fince we two met
together. And thefe thoughts ftiali be told you,
that you alfo may join with me in thankfulnefs,
to the Giver of every good and perfcdt gift, for
Otir happinefs. And, that our prefent happinefs
may appear to be the-gr-eater, and we the more
thankful for it, I will beg you to confider with
me, how many do, even at this very time, lie
under the torment of the ftone, the gout, and
tooth^ch ; and this we are free fpocn. And every
mifery that I mifs is a new mercy, and therefore
let us be thankful. There have been, fince w<?
met, others that have met difaftens of broken
Jimbs -, ^bmc have been blafted, others thunder*
ftrucken ; and we have been freed from thcfe,
and all thofe many other miferies that threaten
human nature } let us therefore rejoice and be
thankful. Nay, which is a far greater mercy,
we are free from the unfupportable burthen of
an accufing tormenting confcience; a mifery that
fione can bear, and tl^refore let us praife him
"for his preventing grace, and fay, wery mifery
U z that
2yz ^he Complete Angler. Part L
that I mifs is a new mercy : nay, let me tell youy
ihere be many that have forty times our eftates^
that would give the greateft part of it to be
healthful and chearful like us ; who, with the
expence of a little money, have eat and drank^
and laught, and angled, and fung, and flept fe-
curely -, and rofe next day, and caft away care,,
and iftifig, and laught, and angled again ^ which
aire bleffings vich men cannot purchafe with alL
their money- Let me tell you, fchdlar, I have
a rich neighbour^ that is always fo bufy that he.
has no leiiure to kugh ; the whole bufinefs of his»
life is to get money, suid more money, that . he:
may (liU get more and moEe money ; he is ftilk
drudging on, and fays, that Solomon fays, ^^ The:
M diligent hand maketh rich;*' and it is true
indeed; but he confiders- not that 'tis not in the
power of riches to make a man happy; for is.
was wifely faki,. by a- maa of great obfervation,.
.*^ That there be as many mifcries beyond
" riches, as- on this fide themV* and yet God
deliver us f jx)m pinching poverty v and grants
that having a competency, we may be content,;
and thankful. Let not us repine,, or fo.mucb
as think the gifts of God unequally dealt) if we
i^e another abound with riches; when^ as. God-
knows, the cares, that are the keys tba^ keep
tihofe riches, hang often fo heavily at the rich^
man's girdle, that ihcy clog him with weary
days and reftlcfs nights, even when others fleep=
quietly. Wc fee but the otufide of the richr
mah's happioefs ; few confider him to be like
the fiHc-worm, that, when (he fcems to play, is,^
au:. the very fame time, fpinning her own bowels,
and
Chap.XXI. JT^Complete Anoler. igg
and confuming herfelf. And ahU «many rich
men do ; loading themfelves with corroding
cares, to keep what they have, probably,^ un-
confcionably got. Let us, therefore, be thank-
ful for health and competence, and above all, for
a quiet confcience*
Let me tell you, fcholar, that Diogenes walk-
ed on a day^ with his friend, to fee a country-*
fair; where he faw ribbons, and looking-glafles^
and nut-crackers, and fiddles, and hobby-horfes,
and many other gim-cracks^ and having ob-
Termed them, and all the other finnimbruns that
make a compleat country-fair, -he faid to his
friend., "Lord! how many things are therein
^* this-. world of which Diogenes hath no need,?'*
And truly it is fo, or might be fo, with very
many who vex and toil themfelves to get what
they have no need of. Can any iman charge
<3od, that he hath not given him enough to
make his life happy ? No, doubtlefs ^ for na^
ture is concent with a little : and yet you ihaU
hardly meet with a man, that complains not of
ibme want^ though he, indeed, wants nothing
bat his will, it naay be, aiothing but bis will of
his poor neighbour, for not worfhipping, or not
flattering him : and thus, when we might be
happy and quiet, we create trouble to ourfelvcs.
I have heard a man that was angry with h[tx^
felf becaufe he was no taller, and of « woniaa
that broke her loaking^Jafs becaufe <it would not
ihew heriace to be as young and handfome as
her next neighbour's was. And I knew ano-
ther, to whom God had given health, and plen-
ty; but a wife, that nature had made pcevilh^
j^^d her hufband's riches had made purXe-proud^
bi
a94 Tbi CoiyiPLETE AKctFit. l^artl.
tnd muft, becaufe (he was rich, and for no other
virtue, fit in the highcft pew in the church ;
which being denied her, (he engaged her huf*
band into a contention for it, and at lad into a
Uiw-fuit, with a dogged neighbour who was as ^
rich as he, and had a wife as peeviffi and purfe-
proud as the other: and this law-fuit begot
higher oppofitions, and actionable words, and
more vexations and law-fuits j for you muft re-
member that both were rich, and muft: there-
fore have their wilh. Well, this wilful purfe-
proud law-fuit, lafted during the Kfe of the
firft hiifband ; after which his wife vext and
chid, and chid and vext, till fhe alfo chid and
vext herfelf into her grave : and fo the wealth
of thefe poor rich people was curft into a puniQi-.'
mcnt, becaufe they wanted meek and thankful
hearts ; for thofe only can make us happy, I
knew a man that had health and riches, an^ ie-
veral houfes, all beautiful, and ready furnifhed,
and would often trouble himfelf, and family ta
fee removing from one houfe to another ; and*
being alked by a friend. Why he removed fo
often from one houfe to another ? replied, " It
** was to find content in fome one of them." But
his friend knowing his temper, told hira. If he
would find content in any of his houfes, he muft
leave himfelf behind him; for content will ne-
ver dwell but in a meek and quiet foul. And
this may appear, if we read and confider what our
Saviour fays in St. Mailbew*B gofpel ; for he
there fays, — *' Bleflcd be the merciful, for they^
♦' fliall obtain mercy. — Blefled be the pure in-
** heart, for they (hall fee God. — Bleflfcd be the
♦* popr in fpirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
♦' heaveii.
Chap. XXI. Tie Cokipxete An^gler. 1^95
*' heaveo. And,— Bleffed be the meek, for
^ they (hall poffefs the earth/* Not that the
meek (hall not alfo obtain mercy, and fee God^
and be comforted, and at iaft come to the king-
"dom of heaven*, but in the mean time he, and
lie only, .poflefles the earth as he goes toward
that kingdom of heaven, by being humble and
ichearful, and cofitent widi what his good &od
lias alkted him. He has ne turbulent, repining,
vexatious thoughts, that he deferves betcer ; nor
h vext when he fees others poffdft ©f more ho-
.nour or more I'iches than his wife God has al-
lotted for his ibare^ but he pofleiTes what he ha«
ivith a meek and contented quietnefs, fuch a
rquietnefs as makes his very di^ams pleafing^
"ooch to God and himfelf.
My honefl: fcholar, dl this i^ tdd to incline
you to thankfulnefs ; and to incline you the more.
Jet me teli you, that though the prophet David
'was guilty of murder and adultery, -and many
other of the moft deadly fins, yet he was faid t0
ibe a man after God's own heart, becaufe he
Abounded more with thankfulnefs than any other
that is nnentioned in holy fcripture, as may ap-
pear in his book of Pfalms ; where tliere is fuch
<a commixture of his confefling of his fins and
unwonthinefs^ and iuch thankfulnefs for God^a
|>ardon and mercies, as did make bim to be ac-
counted, ej/e« by God himfelf, to be a man after
his own heart -, and let us in that labour to be as
like him as we can ; let not the blcffings we re-
ceive daily from God, make «s not to value, or
not praife him, becaufe they be common ; let
not us forget ta praife him, for the innt)ccnt mirth
mid plcafure we have met with fince we met to- /
V 4 gather.
\
996 The Complete Angler. Fart I.
gether. What would a blind man give to fee
the pleafant rivers, and meadows, and flowers,
and fountains, that we have met with fince we
met together ? I have been told, that if a man
that was born blind, could obtain to have his
fight for but only one hour during his whole
life, and fhould, at the firft opening of his eyes,
fix his fight upon the fun when jt was in its full
glory, either at the rifing or fetting of it, he
would be fo tranfported and amazed, and fo ad-
mire the glory of it, that he would not willingly
turn his eyes from that firft raviQiing object, to
behold all the other various beauties this world
could prefent to him. And this, and many
other like bltffings, we enjoy daily, and for
moft of them, becaufe the^ be fo common, moft
men forget to pay their praifes ; but let not us,
becaufe it is a facrificc fo pleafing to him that
made the fun and us, and Hill proteds us, and
gives us flowers and (howers, and ftomachs and
meat, and content, and leifurc to go a fifliing.
Well, fcholar, I have almoft tired myfelf,
and, I fear, more than alnioft tired you : but
I now fee Totlenbam-bigh-crofs, and our (hort
walk thither (hall put a period to my too long
difcourfe; in which my meaning was and is, to
plant that in your mind, with which I labour to
poflcfs my own foul-: that is, a meek and thank-
ful heart. And to that end, I have (hewM you
that riches without them, do not make any man
happy. But bt me tell you, that riches with
ihem remove many fears and cares : and there-
for^e my advice is, that you endeavour t6 be ho-
neftly rich, or contentedly poor : but be fure
chat your riches be juftly got, or you fpoil all.
For
Chap. XXL W^ CoMPLfiTE Angler^ 297
For it is well faid by Cauffin *, " he that lofes his
** confcience, has nothing left that is worth kcep-
" ing." Therefore be fure you look to that. And,
in the next place, look to your health : and if
you have it, praife God, and value it next to a
good confcience; for health is the fecond blefling
that we mortals are capable of-, a blefling that
money cannot buy, and therefore value it, and
be thankful for it. As for money, which may
be faid to be the third blefling, negleft it not:
but note, that there is no neceflity of being rich :
for I told you, the're be as many miferics beyond
riches, as on this fide them : and, if you have a
competence, enjoy it with a meek, chearfal,
thankful heart. I will tell you, fcholar, I have
heard a grave divine fay, that God has two dwell-
ings, one in heaven, and the other in a meek
and thankful heart. Which almighty God
grant to me, and to my honefl: fcholar : and fQ
you are welcome to Tottenham-high-crofs.
f^enat. Well mafl:er, I thank you for all your
good direftions, but for none more than this lafl:
of thankfulnefs, which I hope I fliall never for-
get. And pray let*s now reft ourfelves in this
fweet fliady arbour, which nature herfelf has
woven with her own fingers ; 'tis fuch a con-
texture of woodbines, fweet- brier, jeflfamin, and
niyrtle, and fo interwoven, as will fecure us
• Nicholas CauJ/tn^ a native of Troyes in Champagne, wrote
a book called, The Holy Court ; of which there is an Englijh
tranflation in folio. He was efteemed a perfon of great pro'
bity, and of fuch a fpirit, that he attempted to difplace car-
dinal Richlieu ; but that mrniiler proved too hard for him,
and got him banifiied. The fentiment alcove quoted from
him is wpfthy of Marcus /Intohinuf himfeif*
^ ' both
t^i Vbe CoMPLBTE Ancler; Partf;
both from the fun's viakat heat, and from the
approaching (bower ; and, being fat down, I
will requite a part of your courtelies with a bottle
of iaek, milk, oranges^ and fugar; which all
put together, make a drink like nedar, indeed^
too good for any body but us anglers ; aiut fa,
mafter, here is a full ^afs to you of that liquor j^
and when you have pledged me, I will repeat
the verfes which I promifed you : it is a copy
printed amongft fome of Sir Hknry IVoitonh %
and doubtk& made either by him, or by a lover
of angling. Come, mafter, rK>w drink a glafs
to me, and then I will pledge you, and fall to
my repetition \ it is a deieription of fuch countryr
recreations, as I have enjoyed fince 1 had the
happtnefs to fall jbto your company.
^tv€rzng fearSj beari tearing cam^ .
Anxious ^bsy untimely tears,
Ffyj fly to courts^
Fly to fond worldling^ sfports^
Where firaifld Sardonickyi»//Af ar^ ghjtng fiiS^
And grief is forced to laugh againjl hr will.
fVhere mirth's but mummery^
And f arrows only real M
Fly from our country pafiimes^ flf^
Sad troops of buman mifery.
Come ferene looks ^
Clear as the cryfial brooks y
Or the pure azur'd heaven thatjmiks to fie ..
She rich attendance on our poverty \
Peace and a fecure mind^
Which all menfeek^ we only find.
Mufei
<!iq).XXL STA^ Complete ANCLEit. 19*
Ahufed mortals^ did you know
Where joy ^ bearfs-eafe and coptforts grow^
Tou^dfcorn proud lowers^
> Andfeek them in thefe bowers^
Where winds fometimes our woods perhaps tncy
But bluJiWing care could never tempeji make^
Nor rnurmurs e'er come mgb uSy
Saving of fountains that glide by us^
Here^s nofantaftick majk nor dance^
But of our kids that frtjk and prance %
Nor .wars are feen^
Unlefs upon the green
Two barmlefs lambs are butting one the 9ther^
Which done^ both bleating run each to his mother.
And wounds are never founds
Save what the plough-fbare gives, the ground^
Here are no entrapping baits
fTo hafien tOy too bajiy fates ^
Vnlefsitie
The fond credulity
Offtiyfifh, which, worldling like, ftHl look
Upon the bait, but never on the hook :
Nor envy, ' Uefs among - '
The birds for price of their fweet fong^
Go J let the diving negro feek
For gems hid in fome forlorn creek :
We all pearls fcoruy
Save what the dewy morn
Congeals upon each little fpire of grafs^
Which carelefs fhepherds beat down as they pafs :
And gold ne*er here appear s^ \
iSave what the yellow Ceres bears.
Bleji
3po ,Tht Complete AN<5i.ER^ Parti.
BkJi/ilent groves^ obtnayyoubc
Fcr ever mirtFs beji nurferj !
May pure consents
For ever piub Jbeir tents
^Vpon ihefe downs ^ ibefe meads^ tbefehchy tbefi
mountains^
uind peace ftill Jlumber by tbefe purling fountains :
JVhicb we may every year
Meet wben we come afijbing bere.
Fife, Truft mc, fcholar, I thank you heartily
for thcfe verfes, they be choicdy good, and
doubtlefs made by a lover of angling : come,
now, <Jrink aglafs to me, and I will requite you
with another very good copy : it is a farewel to
the vanities of the world, and fome fay written
by Sk Harry JVooion^ who I told you was an ex*
cellent angler. But let them be writ by whom
chey will, he that writ them had a brave foyl,
and muft needs be poffeft with happy tfeaugbtt
at the time of their compofur^.
Farewell ye'gildeJ follies, pleajing troubles ; '
FareweUye honoured ragSj ye glorious bubbles \
Fame's but a bollow eccho^ gold pure clay j
Honour tbe darling but 4)f onefhort day.
Beauty, tb^ eye's idol^ but a damajk^djkin i
^tate but a gulden prifon to live in^ "'
And torture free born minds: embroidered trains
Merely but pageants for proud fwelling vei^s j
And blood allfd to- greatnefs^ is alone .
• Jnberitedj not purcbas'd, tor our own^ .
Fame^honour^ beauty ^ftate^ trainyblogdandbirthj
Are but the fading bloffoms of tbe earth.
.dt
« * i
Chap. XXi. The Completi AnglVr. jof
• ' ^
/ w€uld he greats but that the fun doibftill
Level ins rays againft the rtfing hill :
I would be high J but fee the proudefi oak
Moji fubjeSl to the rending thunder • Jir oak ^
J would be rich^ but fee men^ too unkindy
Dig in the bowels of the rieheji mind :
I would be wife, but that I often fee
The fox fufpe£Ied, ijobilli the afs goes free :
I would be fair, but fee the fair and proudy
Like the bright fun, oft fetting in a cloud :
I would be poor, but know the humble grafs
Still trampled on by each unworthy afs :
Rich hated : wife fufpeSled : f cor rid if poor :
Great fear*d : fair tempted: higbjiill envy^d more r
I have wifb^d all ; but now Iwifh for neither ;
Great, high, rich, wife, nor fair \ poor Fll bt
rather.
Would the world now adopt me for her heir^
Would beaut fs queen entitle me the fair.
Fame fpeak me fortunes minion, could I vie
Angels with India, with afpeaking eye
Commandbareheads,bow*dknees,firikejufHcedumby
As well as blind and lame, or give a tongue
Toflones by epitaphs : be call' d great mafier
In the loofe rhimes of every poet after ?
Could I be more than any man that lives.
Greats fair, ^ rich, wife^ all in fuperlatives :
Tet I more freely would the fe gifts rejign,
Than ever fortune would have made them mine^
And hold one minute of this holy leifure^
Beyond the riches of this empty pleafure.
Welcome pure thoughts, welcome yeftlent groves,
ihefeguefts, thefe courts^ n^fo^l moft dearly loves :
* Now
goa W^ Complete AN<;LEje. Part F^
Now the winged people of the Jky Jball fing
My cbtarful anthems to the giadftme fpring :
A prayer-book nozv^ Jhdl he my hokwg-glafs^
In which I will oihre fweet virtuis face.
Here dwell no balrftd looks ^ no palace-cares^
No broken vows dwell here^ nor pale-fac^d fears :
^hen here til Jit ^ andfigh my hot lovers fdly^
And learn fcffeSl an holy melancboiy ; - ,
And if contentmmt be a ftran^er tbeuj
Til ne^er look for it^ but in heaven agaat.
Venat. Well, cnafter, tbefe vcrfes be worthy to
keep a room in every man's memory, f thank
you for them ; and I thank you for your many
inflru(5tions, which God willing, I will not forget:
and as St. Aujlin in his coofeflions, book 4. chap,
3. commemorates the kindnefs of his friend Ve-
recundusy for lending him and his companion a
country- houfe, bccaufe there they refted and en-
joyed thcmfclves free from the troubles of the
world ; fo, having had the like advantage, both
by your tonverfation and the art you have taught
irte, 1 ought ever to do the like : for indeed, your
company and difcourfe have been fo ufeful and
pleafant, that I may truly fay, I have only lived
fince I enjoyed them and turned angler, and not
before. Neverthclcfs, here I muft part with you,
here in this now fad place, where 1 was fo happy
as firft to meet you -, but I fliall long for the ninth
of M(^y for then 1 hope again to enjoy your be-
loved company at the appointed time aood place.
And now I wifh for Ibme fomniferous potion,
that might force me to flcep away the inter-
mitted time, which will pafs away with me as
tcdioufly, as it docs with men in forrow ; never-
thclcfs.
ehap.XXL fi&^CoMFtETE Angler; 503^
thelefs I will make it as fiiort as 1 can by my hopes
and wifhes. And my good mafter, I will not
forget the do6trine which you told me Socrates
taught his fcholars^ that they fhould not think
to be honoured fo much for being philofophers^
as to honour philofopby by their virtuous lives*
You advlfed me to the like concerning anglings
and I wilLendeavottf to do fo, and to live like
thofe many worthy men, of which you made
mention in the former part of your difcourfe.
This is my firm refolution ; and aa a pious man
advifed his friend, that to beget moFtification he
fiiould frequent churches, and view monuments^
and charnel-houfes, and then and there con Gder^
bow many dead bodies time had piled up at the
gates of death : fo when I would beget content,
and increafe confidence m the power, and wif«-
,4om, and providence of almighty God, I will
walk the meadows by fome gliding ftream, and
there contemplate the lilies that uke no care,
and thofe very many other various little living
creatures, that are not only created but fed, mad
knows not how, by the goodnefs of the God of
nature, and therefore truft in him. This is my
purpofe 5 and fo, let every thing that hath breathi
praife the Lord ; and let the blcffing of Sc
Pe$er^s mafter be with mine.
Pifc. And upon all that are lovers of virtue,
and dare truft m his providence, an4 be quiet^
and go an angling.
** Study to be c^iet,'' 1 Thcff iv. 1 1.
The END of the FiRsr Fart.
IT
JT is imagined that the fever at defer iptions of
River 'fifby contained in the foregoing pages ^ are
' abundantly fufficient for the information of any mere
angler: hut tbofe who are curious to know the
ejfential differences betzveen the various fpecies^ are
hereby recommended to a pojibumeus work of thai
learned man and excellent naturalijl^ the Reverend
Mr. John Ray, entitled Synopfis Methodica
Avium & Pifcium, puhlifbcd by Dr. Derham, in
Qftavo, 17^3.
' ' ' I I » I I iin
THfi
i
Pl^fcXfoToacwllaf e IX.
S^^x'^4>Ae^/it- ^-^44/^.
' ^
:pjAft-:xit.,RUi^r.i.r..x.
-%
^
THE
f Complete Angler.
f
PART II.
INSTRUCTIONS how to Angle for
a Trout or Grayling in a clear Stream.
^i mihi non credit, facial licet ipfe periclum :
Et fuerit fcriptis aquior ilk mets. '
LONDON. MDCCLXXIV,
t
*;•
■**'
«.
■« * -
* * •
• f
SOME
ACCOUNT
■OFT at
LIFE and WRITINGS
Charles Cotton, £%
ina LETTER to die Editor
of The Complete Ancx-E-r.
9 H E pleafiire we conceive at tlie
? revival of £>me good old books
^ we have formerly read* by fair
a and accurate editions, fomewhat
pefembles, methinks, that which we feel
on the return of our hearty old friends
and acquaintance to town, from tkek raial
retreats and receffes, where diey have
beea thought loft in obroarity, and wortt
out of memory; till finding, by their
X» frefli
L IV ]
frcflb and florid afpedls, at their revifit, thst
they have been growing youthful in age, and
renewed, as it were, a leafc for years, we
thcji receive them, not witl] that diffidenoe
and referve wherewith new faces and ftran-
gers are at firft cx}mmonly admitted, but
with that ready, free, and familiar cheat-
fulnefs, or good^will, which we (hew to
thofe in whom we may confide ; haWng be-
fore, in a manner, perufed and been pleaf-
cd with their delightful and inftrudtivc con-
tents.
Such is the fatisfadlion I promife myfelf
upon a new impreflion, from your hands,
of Mr. Walton and Mr. Cottons Dialogues
of Angling ; the two beft performances .on
that topicK, in our tongue. But as the former
did alfo oblige. the publick with the lives of
feveral eminent men, 'tis much that fome
little hiftorical monument has not, in grate-
ful retaliation, been raifed and devoted to
his memory : the few materials I, long fince,
with much fearch, gathered up concerning
him, you have feen, and extraded, I hope,
what you found neccflfary for the purpofe I
intended them. And as Mr. Cotton alfo,
though a more voluminous writer, has been
no Icfs negledled, little having been attempt-
ed in remembrance of his life and works, I
was dcfirous of trying how far I could like-
wife make fpme recovery thereof.
This
This gentleman, dcfcendcd of a worthy .
and honourable. family, was thegrandfon of
Sir George Cotton^ Knight, a younger branch
thereof, fometime at Sautbampton\ who
dying about the year 16 13, left by his wife
Cajfandra^ daughter and heirefs of the noble
family of M^Williams, two children^ name-
ly* CaJJandra^ who died unmarried ; and
Charles Cotton^ of Ovingden, in the county
of Su^ex, Efqi who married the daughter
of Sir JoAn Stanhope^ of Elyajion, in Derby^^
Jhire^ Knight *, and half-brother to Philip,
the firft earl of Cbejierjield-f; which daugh-
ter Sir John had by Olive^ his firft wife, the
daughter and heirefs of Edivard Beresjord^oi
Beresford and En/on in Staffordjhire^ and of
Bentley in the county of Derby if, defend-
ed of the lords of Beresford, &c. as is alfo
the prefent earl of "Tyrpne. This lady,
Olive Stanhope, died in 1614, aged about
* The Vtjitation of Siaffordjhtre^ in 1663 and 1664,
by William DugdaU^ E(q; JVi?rrfl'j^ king at arms. In
the Coll. of Arm*,. C. 36. Fol. 114.
t The Pierage of Ireland, by Mr. 'John Lodge%.
1754. Vol. II. p. 210.
X This Sir Johrtj who died m April 1638, by his
fecond ^ife Mary, daughter of Sir JohnRadcliffe, " of
.^^ Oatfal in Lanca/hire, Knisht, w»s great grandfather
*' oi fVilUam earl of Harrington, lord lieutenant of
** Ireland 'y* fays Mr. Lodge, as above : 'but Dugdak
calls it Ordfal, in that cpunty ; perhaps it is in Not^
tinghamjhire. Vid- J. Adami% India Villoris, Foh
1680, p. 164, .
,\ / >. X 3 thirty-
thirty-tihret years i^ and Micbael Urajton^
a poet then in no fmaU requeft, among hi&
el6gies».ba$ one in her commendation. Her
daughter, named likewife Oltve^ heirefs ta
her mother, left by her hofband Cbarks^ be-
fore-mentioned, one fon, named alio Charles
Cotton^ oi Beresfordf Efq; whoi^thefub*
yt&, of the enfuing narratiire.
He was born on the 28tirof Aprih 1630^.
and received, it feems, hi» education at
Cambridge^ as his fadier had aHb before
him ; the particulars and produdUoos whereof
may, probably, more diftin^y appear, whea
the publick Ihail be obliged with thofe many
and much defired Tolomes, wherein have
been preferved the writers of that univerfity,
by a late learned and elaborate member
thereof ♦. Of whkrh univeffity focver he
was, he has, in a mofl: cordial and grateful
manner, remembered his tutor ; and having
alio named him, he fliould ieem to be that
fellow of Brazen^Nofe college in Oxford^
named Ral^b Raw/on, who was ejeded from
his fellowmip by the parliament vi&tors, ia
1648^ and fu£^red great hacdfhips till after
the reftoration r ytx ^n- could only get re»
ftored, but never preferred -f*. This circuot*
fiance, I think, tallies very weH with Mp,
« The Rev. yix. 1^oma$. Baker ^
t Jbhen. Oav». VgiL U« Col. lon^*
C vii 3
CottaH^ tranflatlon of an ode in Joannes Se*
cuhdusi and his infcripition thereof to his deai^
tutor^ Mr. Ralph Kawfon i declarihg what
contrarieties or inconuftencies (hould dif-
concert or diibrder the courfe and frame of
nature^ before he would neglect to take card
of hinij alive ot dead ^. If Mr. Cotton was
his pupil at Oxford^ he fhould have beea
^egiftered amonjg the Oxonian writers ; if hd
recqived his infuuftion at Cambridge^ as it is
moft likely he did> Mr. Raw/on might havd
removed thither after his ejcdment^ and
been his in(lru£tor in that univerfity i or he^
might be fo at his owb habitation, undeif
the eye of his father.
Befides his academick or claflicat learning,
he was happy in a graceful addrels, and well
verfed in the modern languages j accomplifh-
ments» which, as they are hot alwal^s the!
fruits either of domeflick or collegiate cul-
tivation> we may fuppofe he acquired by
travel ; and indeed he himfelf mentions hisi
having been in France^ and other foreigni
countries -f*.
Tis evident that after he came fo be fct-*
tied at home, . he was early in much efteem^
and converfant with many ingenious per-»
fons of high rank and repute i more dpc«*
♦ C Cottonh Pocitts an feveril occafioni, &f^ p*i4f^
f In his book of Jriglingy alfo in the vdume atorc-
fiijd of his p«eoi$9 W^.
4 cially
cialiy with his coudn. Sir ji/lon Cockayne',
Bart. ofP0ol€yin Warwkkjhire^ znAAJhbourn
io thePM^; who w$is well known to the not-
ed poets and other wits of his time^ and had
a poetical genius himfelf ; alfo with. TBomai
Wlatman^ Efq; barrifter of the Inner temple \^
Mr. Thomas. Bancrofit of ShxmrJ^on ^ Alexan^
der Broome } Ifaac Walton^ and others ; by
all whom he has had commendatory verfes;
letters^ and chara£fers^. beftowed on nim for
the virtues of his nvind^ and the pr odu(ftlons
of his pen. Gerard Langiaine has men^
tioned two other poets among thofe who
have wi'itten verfes in his praife; the one is
Thomas Herrickj Efgj who, in his bock of
poenis^ has indeed one copy to his honoured
and moft ingenious friend Mr. Charles Cof-.
ton *; but this I take to be addrefled ra-
ther to the father than the fon. The other
is colonel Richard Lo'oetace ; and I remem-
ber, fn avolume of his. poems, one named
The Grafshopper^ iftfcribed to his noble
friend Mr. Charles Cotton ; and another on
09 ;^thc death of .Mts. Cajandra Cotton,
only fitter to Mr. Charles Cotton : and both
thefe^ poems were written before, or in
tlie year 1649 +. But though it has l3een
• A
* R. HerrUk*s Ibfperides, 8vo, 1648. p. J5>.
t 3ee coloixel Lovuacis Lucqfiay iic. i2mo, 1649^
thought
thought they were addrefled to CBarfe^
Cotton the younger, by Langbaine^ and
others, who hever knew the charaiSer of th^
clcfer, or had read the pedigree of the ftml-
ly ; yet, by thofe who hafve been acquainted
with bcfthi it may be perceiv^eci that boihl
thofe .poem^ were, infcribed to ^he father;
tfpecially by the elegy on his fifter before-
mentioned ; of whole name, or any other.
It appears not that he had a; daughter. Not
but the youger Cotton Acknowledges how
durably he wafe commemor'ated ii^ the chro-
nicle of fame, by that accomplifhed gentle-
man colonel Le^W^^f ; whofe fortunes, in-
deed, though in greater extremes, did rinucb
refemble his own ; and regrets that he can-
not make him an adequate return, though
it is apparent that he was doing it at the
feme time -f*. There are nwreover, in be-
higt feveral manufcript letters, written by
Mr. Charles Cotton to Mr. Fhili^ Kynden
whofe natural hiftory of Derh'yjhve^ or ra-
ther prolufion to an intended one J, and feve-
ral-other difcourfes, remain alfounprinted -§J
: ♦ Inhis jF/zf/z/lNdr^maticlc poets, Is'c. 8vp, 169X,
P- 77-
t Cotton's Poems, p. 481.710 the mempry^of his
worthy friend colonel Richard Lovelace^ (wRo cied
in 1658.)
J NscM/ons EngliJhHiHoncsil Library, Fol. 173^^
p. 12.
• § In the AJhmoUan library at Oxfo d, • •*
But
But thofe letters, we prefaaie, were written
by Mr. Cotton, the tather, and, probably^
upon the fubjed of that hidory ; be being
endowed with fucb excellent talents in the
defcription of rural fitaations, as to have
been coupled therein, by a competent judge,
with Sir Philip Sidney *• We may alio
Sod, that one of the cantos in Sir ff^ilKam
Davenanfs mod noted poem -^, written
partly while he was prifoner in the Tower
of LondcHf Anno 1652, was dedicated, or
directed, to the fame Mr* Cotton the elder^
as his (on informs us ; who has recited fe«
ven ftanzas of it, and in acknowledgment
of the honour done to his father, by pre-
ferving his name among the heroes revived
through his pen, has, with his wonted libc«
rality of mind, returned Sir fVilUam an in^
genious anfwer, equal to, if not furpafling
his pattern ; alfo in (even flanzas, and in his
own manner of alternate verfe 1^.
From hence, and other inft^ces that
might be produced, as well as from the pub-
Ifck encomiums faearly beAowed upon him,
it is ea(y enough to be gathered, that he ad*
dieted himfclf betimes to the moft elegant
• Mr. Ifaac Walton^ in a note, p. 26. of The Csm*
fkti AngUr^ Part If. printed in 1676.
t See Sir IVilliam Davenanf% works, Foi, 1673^ \tz.
his Gondiherty Lib. 3. Canto 7,
J CqUqu's Poems, p. 572^ 374.
ei)fcr-
cntert^nmef^ts of literature ; and alio to tlio
delightful amirfements of planting, garden^
ing, arnd above all, the fober recreation of
angUi>g» as what would give the greateil
latitude and indulgence to contemplation,
felieve hi» mind after fevere fludy^ feq^ueAer
bim from impertinent company, moderate
the inclination to ambitious purfutts, and
promote the habits of peace and patience,
under great difappoirHments. And thereinr
he became, by long pra£kice and experience,,
moft emtnemtly expert.
It no where appears^ that he was, in the
former part of his life, very forward or jfbfi-
citous to advance himfelf in the worlds
uid I meet with no account of any pre^
feroMnt, that he then either enjoyed or
£>ught; though he had relations, friends, and
intereft enough among men of (^ality and
power, to have procured fuch advancement
f^ would both have given authority to,, and
leceived luftre from; his parts and abilities^
An even afterwards, when his hofpitalTty^
and other freedoms with his cdate, founded
on too much confidence in the honour and
integrity of thofe who were partakers thereof,
had much involved or intangled, and redu«
cedit, though obliged, fomewhat reluctantly,
to procure (wh addition or recruits to his re-
venue, he ftill feemed, in all theJitcle intervals
q£ unmolefted quiet he could obtain, topre«*
fcr
[ »*" ]
ftt a private to a pablick life, and a calnri
retirement with the mufes- to the budle of
bufinefs; or fwimming along with the
courtly (hoal of competitors for promotion,
profit, and precedency, through the a<3:iy€;
torrent of employment; wherein tho' hq
might live according to the fenfe of Seneca,,
more cxtcnfively known to others, he thought
he (hould but die more ignorant of himfelf.
And in his praife of Contentation, to his olcl
friqnd or father Walton^ befides others of hi?
poetical pieces, he often fpeaks in his own
fenfe to the fame purpofe *.
The firft or more juvenile exercifes of \\\%
pen, were, it feems, in poetry ; and if his
elegy on the carl of Derby '\ was not writ-
ten, as perhaps it was, earlidr than a twelve-
month after that nobleiliad was beheaded,
it gives, at lead, a fpecimen of his poetical
qualifications, by the timic he was twenty-
two years of age. His father, who was
himfelf a man ot bright parts and engaging
accomplifliments, gave him themes, and
authors, whereon to exercife his judgment
and learning, befides the topicks he volunta-
rily enjoined himfelf, even to the time that
he entered into the ftate of matrimoay : but
I do not find t^at any of his performances
appeared from the prefs, till fome few years
after the reftoration* ;
* His Poems, p. 252. \ Idcm^ p. 41 1.
•:.. * ^ Among
it
' AmdUg his poems are divers odes, fbngs,
and other love-vcrfes to ladies, of whom
thofe with black hair and eyes generally feem
to have engaged thoA of his praife and admt-*
ration. But in his two poems, ililcd The Se-^
paration^ he defcribes one lady, *• with the
" fweeteftpcrfon, and faireft mind," — " who
met him with an equal flame:"—" never-
thelefs, the fuperilitious law would di-
" vide their bloods, becaufc too pear."
He has another poem, printed before-
thefe j but when written appears not, in*'
titled La Illujirijfima^ on his fair and
dear fifter Mrs. Anne King i and he be-'
flows fuch tranfcendent applaufes on her^ as
would incline us to believe this was the
lady fpoken of in the other two poems j
but that, fays he, no love inhabits' her
breaft :" and yet it might, if this lafl:
poem was written before the two former;
Though no fifter of his is mentioned in the
pedigree before referred to.
. However this was, about the year 1656, ^
he married IJabella^ daughter of Sir Thomas
Hutchinfon^ of Owthorp in the county of
Nottingbam^ Knt. by whom he had Bereft
ford Cotton^ born in 1657, or the following
year, and Charles^ born about feven or eight
years after, befides Olive and Catherine ^- ^
* The pedigree of Cotton^ in Du^dale's Vifit. as
tefore.
alio
IC
aUb other daughters, bora, it feems, tfter the
above-mentioned viiiiation was made. Mr«
Cotttm married to bis iccond wife, Mary^ the
daughter of Sir WilUaM £i#/» dF Stenjham^
Court in fF^rcifierJhir^^ and widow of Wing^
^IdCromweU^ earl of Ard^Ufs^ by whom be
had no liTue *. And as it will appear that
this countefs» his iecond wife, iurvived Mr.
Cotton^ I fee not what room or authority there
can be forgiving him a third» as a iate editor
oiThe CompkuAngler has done; who, in his
own preface to the work, fpeaking of Wai^
ton^ and foon after of Cotton, fays, *' that ha
** married a daughter of iValton'^ I fufpeft
that this afiertion has no better foundation,
than Cottons dedication of the fecond part i
which, by the way, the gentleman above*
mentioned has omitted to publi(b, wherein
!hc calls Mr.. Jfaac JValton \m father. The
reader will hereafter fee very good xeaibn to
believe, that CoZ/^n was nothing morethan an
adopted fon of Walt on* s ; and C^/Zm himfclf
claims no other relation to him *}*, where he
fays, " he gives me leave to call him father,
'* and I hope he is not aihamed to own m#
^' for his adopted ion.*" It is true that H^aU
ion had a daughter, but ihe was otherwiia
* Mr. Lodg€*s Peerage of Ir^kind^ as ahovje. Query
if the fame Countefs of Ariglafi who died in Dublin
^ Comp. AngU Part II. Page 6. Edit. 167^.
I dif-
difpokd off as appears in the life of Mr.
Walton^ prefixed to thefe dialogues ^» In
what harmony he lived with eimer or both
his ladies, is now perhaps hot indiftindly to
be remonbered i but his general opinion of
the matrimonial ftate^ may appear in his
poems ; efpecially one, not the leaft noted
among them, which he ironically calls,
7bejoys of marriage^ ; wherein after having,
to the various pem^ons of all the fex^ op-
pofed the csxtreams of their contrafting qua«
lities, and allowed the golden mean to none $
and after a fhoit declaration, that in refpe<3:
to his own choice he had no caufe to com-
plain, though his very love created his woe i
yet he concludes in every part, andthewhole^
upon the uneafinefs of a married life.
The father of Mr. Cotton^ who had long
lived in great refped among perfons of the
higheft rank and reputation, died in the year
1658 %. There is a curious portrait of his
charader, in a late poflhumous publication,
drawn by the hand of a mofl: delicate intel-
lectual limner, no lefs a one than the famous
earl of Clarendon ; and tho' it bears in many
parts fo ftrong a refemblance of the fbn,
* See alfo a ftort account of the life of Dr. Thomas
l^e^n^ late biihop of Bath and/^<//j, by TVilltam Haw*
i^n$y Efq; of xYit Middle Templi^ 8w, 17131 ^c.
f Cotton*s Poems, p. 36.
X DugdaU\ Viilt. as before.
elpecially
[ »vi ]
^rpecUlly in his latter foCtunes, as to induce
a. fuppofition that it was intended for him$
ve^t as the noble au'tlior could not know the
latter part of the fon's life, as be died £btr-
\teen yeac^be&rehini, in his exile at i^ai^M^
rit muil be'beheld^s his Idrdibip's genuinfi
'/draught of the father.
, The reader will find by thie charadhrr k-
jfelf, which we (haW give in the noble au-
•chorls own words, that theieldcr Mr. Cotton
*^as a gentleman of jao.ordinary accompliih*-
ments ; and his opinion of hi en wiU be very
xrxuch raifed, when he' finds he. was one of
•that Jearned and ingenious fociety^ to whofb
company and converiittion his lordfhip, as
jwell for his improvement as delight, while a
fludent, devotdd his leifure hours $ it cojoii-
iQfted of the following ecmaent perfbns,
namely, Ben Jobnjbn^ Mr. SeUen, Mr. Cot^
'ton^t'Av.yokn Fatigjban, afterwards chief juf*-
tice of the common pleas. Sir Kenelm iDig^
iy, lAv. Thomas May^ the tranflator of Lu^
cany and others. His lordfliip has drawn
their charadlcrs in his ufual mafterly way»
and thatt of Mr. Coton is as follows :
" Charles Cotton was a gentleman^
** born to a competent fortune ; and fo qua-
^< lified in his perfon and education, that,
** for many years, he continued the greateft
** ornametit of the town, in the efteemr of
** thofe who had been beft bred. IJis na--
*' tural
4t
€€
€€
[ xvu J .
♦* ttiral parts were very great i his -wit flow*
^' ing, in all the parts of converfation; the
fuperftrudlure of learning not raifed to a
confiderable height i but having paiTed
** fome years in Cambridge^ and then in
France^ and always with learned, men^
his exprefSons were ever proper and fig^
nificant, and gave a great luftre to his
dticourfe upon any argument ; fo that he
*' was thought^ by thofe who were not in-
*^ titnate with him^ to have been much bet*
^* ter acquainted with books than he was«
*^ He had all thofe qualities^ which^ ill
*^ youthi raife men to the reputation of be*
'* ing fine gentlemen ; fuch a pleafantnefs
*' and gaiety of humour^ fuch a fweetnefs
*' and gentlenefs of nature, and fuch a ci«
^* vility and delightfulnefs in converfation,
" that no man, in the court or out of it,
appeared a more accomplifhed perfon, all
thefe extraordinary qualifications being
fupported by as extraordinary ckarnefs of
courage and fearleOTnefs of fpirit; of
*' which he gave too often manifeftation*
^' Some unhappy fuits in law, and wafle of
*' his fortune in thofe fuits, made (bme im-
preflion upon his mind, which being im-
proved by domeflick aiHi<5tions, and thofe
indulgencies to himfelf which naturally
attend thofe afflidions, rendered his age
lefs reverenced than his youth had been,
Y ^« and
€$
€t
€€
it
€€
€€
i€
4€
I 3Fviir ]
^ and gave hh beftr fdends caufe to Have
•* wifhedy that he had not lived fo long*."'
Though Mr. Cottvn might have rccomi-
mended feveral books and: U'aAsj before- be
died, to the perufal of his fon ; and fome
were written or tranfiated by him under his^
father's diredion, yet have I n^et wiA nO'-
thing ,of his^ in print till the fourth year after !
the reftoration ; and then cam6 out in a fifialL
volume, 716^ Moral Pbilofapby of the Stoicks,
tranfiated from the French of Monf. de Vaix^
prelident of the parliament at Provence. It
is dedicated to Ins coM&sk yobn Ferrary Efq;;^
is dated in Feb. 1663, and printed in a thin.
Odavo, 1664 -f* ; but was tranfiated feven^
years before, at his father'^ command, as
he informed us himfelf :[!; This book had
been tranfbtted by Dr. Tbonms James^ the
£r{l keeper of the Bodleian. Library, above
threefcoie years before \\i
Some panegyrick he had^written^ whether
upon the King's Return^ or not, I am not
certain ; all that I have feen of his on that
fubjedl, being only an invitation of fome
friend to a merry meeting on that jpyful oc-
cafion^ at^d no panegyiick ; yet; whoever it
♦ Life' of Edtuard Earf of Clarmdon^ in Folioy
pxfordy tygq, p. 16.
f Alfo again ia 1667, 1671, f^c*-
X In the faid dedication.
9 London, 8va, is^9^
I
Wsis he fo celebratedt it not bemg perform^
ed in fuch a manner as was cxpc&6d, a
line of cenfure was thrown out %t it, . in a
certain lebelllng SeJ^n oftbif Poets: but as
Mr. Waller feems to baveiiadfio hand ib this
kmpoon, it was not that^ bnt his Faneff^
rick on Oliver GromweU^i which moved Mr.
Cotton to infcribea fatire to him^as others had
alfo done ^f*. Butifi^^/i^^in the Sejiom^on^
iaidy is allowed to have made amends^ how*
ever unlikely the method, by-reppefentingf a
part of the graveft and gfeateft |:(0ecamoiTg
the Romans, in a kind of raafqaerade dreft f^
which next appeared Under the title ofScar^
rantdesf ox Virgil ^ravejlie : being ihe;^r/^
iook cfVirgiN -Mneis, in Englijhl&urUJquef
Odlavo, 1664. < ' ^ ' '
It would be an excurfion that ^txiighilksd
me away even up to4he times of ahti<}uity,
and fo be thought too tedious for an epifto**
lary difcourfe, to trace the Sftile, humours^
and other liberties of- ^ravejly, Parody Bur^^
lefque, Doggrel, dhd fuch lik6 pbetical writ*
ings to their fources : therefore ii may bier
enough in this place to deduce a few de*
tacfaed hints, that may perhaps fuggeft; or
Jcad to fome rules of diredkion ; and eipetii-
«lly to obferve, in behalf of MuC40ttonyi^>M
♦ Cotton's. PoetnAj, p, ,483.-
t Men. Oxen. Vol. It Col.
X yid. State Pttmst SirOf Vol. I. 1703I. p^ 2o6i '
Y 2 h«
he has in his compofitibfis of this eaft ami,
C0mfik»on, taken no greater freedom with
VirgHp than others Ukewife with fiiccefs had
done before him ; as they had alfo with Ho^
tmf^ Horace, Ovid^ Loicanf C&uiJian, and
oChers of the ancient da£icks; For iai^eedr
aH ages and countries have prediiced wits.
cH^fed to turn grave^ klMf and lofty ar«
guments or cbarafiers^ iqf a thofe that are
lepidi hidicroos^ and grotefque ^ or reprefent
ferious smd elevated ai^ions ki jocular » fami-
liar, and fantaftick phra&s; as in Scarr&n and
Cottmt^% ^ravejtm, or John PbiJips^ the ne-
phew of Milton, in nis Maronides. And
not only to veft Apolh in the jacket of Har^
lequin, but atfo» on the contrary, to dlveft
mean petty perfons, and trite or triyiall to-
pick^ and e?erits, of their plain^ pr<^r^ and
fuittUe trappings^ to bedizen them out in
Pimlko, or bloat them up with turgid bom*
baft, or deck them in aU the gorgeous and
glittering robes of majefiick ilile and fenti«
ment ;i as in Taffbne'^ Seeciia Rapita, Boikau%
^Jjutriftf and John Philips^, of Hereford,, m
bi» C]^ and Splendid SbH/ing.
In either attire, burlefque is njoftly defign-
ed to* be a kind of comick fatire in comical
ureHe; arKt that confiding much in the fur-
prize created by fuch new, ftrange, and ud-
expelled, yet fignifica^t'/ r^imes, as . were
ic^M^y cveif h^irneucd tpgcthcf before.
A delicate burlelque^ i$ perhaps m liar4 to
^e produced as an exadt epick poem^ it has
many improprieties to avoid. A (iQgle pe«
riod of -fterling wit and humour, is not com-
mon in profe, but a chffter and continuation
of them in verfe is rare indeed?! 'tis bard ia
this path for the mufe to keep a graceful
pace long, without tripping ; and mod com-^
poled minds look upon this freakifh kind of
poetr)^ but as the froth of the Cafi^idfi
fering, which will often break and fly oS
tor want of fpirits to fupport it. To paint
even the foam of Pcgafus in perfe^ioa,
may be as difHcuh, z% Apellts foiipd j^ tP
draw only that oli Bua^b^lus,^ when he perr
foi:med in dei^air, at Uil by chance, what
he could not -do with all his ar^t.
, HowcRer it may be of good or bad tcrif
denpy ai\d cqnfeqQencet according as whert^
whiere, hpw, on what, or at, to, and hy
whom ^ i^ aimed, or applied; it may be a
Hfeftil inftrument, rightly conducted, to ejc-
pofe fraud and impolhire, entbufiafm, byr
pocrify, fuperftition, chicanery, quackery^
pedantry.; with ntiaiiiy a$e(^atiqns and vaai*
ties, falbions and /olUes, failings and foibles
of life, ufu^ly bclpw 4he fharp heavy
fcQurge of fatire^ and often more effedtualJy
treforming by fucb kinds >of pieafant an4
palatable raillery^ t|pi^n the moft fevere and
l^rttvP^izing reafon ;. as> on th; qther han4»
y 3 . «t
[ ^^^ J
^ may be a mifchicvous weapon, nd left
fubjed to ofFend and degrade religion, go-f'
yernment, laws, morals, manners, efpeci*
ally chaftity and reputation j even juftice,
truth, and publick virtue itfelf. But as the
J general end of (hewing the raufe thus in* her
jTolicks abd vagaries, iSj or (hould he, no
more than innocent and inoffenfiye ciiverfion,
by agreeably variegating our ideas, as fome
gTafles may be held in fuch a pofition, asf
to invert their objeSs j there requires great
delicacy and difcretion to keep within the Ji-
mits of decency and decorum, that no parf
degenerates into any thing profane, obfcenCj^
fcurrilous, or bordering upon the defiling
manner^s, and low, vulgar cant, or o&er
tainted ttrms o( BUlingfgate. Mannas them-?
felves may be better reformed than by ua^
mannerly means, wherein the very ialvc
might poifon the fore. |t is true, he muft
be a cyhick indeed, \y\\o can endure no tale
to be told on a proper occafion, and in fit
Company, after a droll manner ; but to found
a profefforftiip of mockery, or buffoonery j|
and commence a doflior of drollery, upon
all fubjcdts, before all perfons, and in alj
places, muft reduce a man to a monkey^
and expofe him more contenr^ptibly than a
mountebank. It were, furely, an abjc€l
ambition, never to be envied by refined and
more reftified fpirits, to furpafs, in all their
I * moft
I
^ xxiii 3
mod coniummate qualities^ the beft Dutch
|)ickle-herring» ScatcJ> morny-andrcw, or
Englijh jack-pudding, that ^cver -exifted. If
parallels and dedudtions often yield con-
ivincing confiraiations^ and from companions^
:as philofqphcrs fay, arife the.greateft part of
our knowledge*, it may be in ,the conduft
of a man's thoughts, and *exprefli(His in his
writings, much as in hb caraage, his gef-
1ure> his voice, and countenance, in hi^
<onverfation. He need not have the faculties
^f his mind, no more than the features x^
•hjs face, continually ftarched and flifFened
-crp with gravity, like Fdifla£^^^ men ia
buckram : yet is it ^preferable to fee a vi-
iage fixed like a^i^ard, or a bufto in plaif-
4er of Paris^ than always diftorted, as if
^by convulfions, into fcopnful fneor and gii-
cnace. Habit, in this vhumour, often
ilretchcs to excefs ; and,!from moderate li-
t)erties of this kind« -men have, at lad, be->
come licentious. They may ekher quibble
the charadters of wit and wifdom away in
a few conundrums, or fcribble them away
an two or three cantos of burlefque, as Are^
ttne^ at a piece of ribaldry, loft bis life in a
jfit of laughter \. Many, through this vain
4)aflion of outshining all others, and making
* Sir Tohie Matthews'^ Letters, publiihed by Dc*
*P^, Donne<t the youirger, 8vo, 1660. p. 169.
4- £<7j//s Di<^ionary, 10 the article of jP. yfr^//;«^*
Y 4 <hem-
[ xxiv ]
themCblves moft extravagantly entertaiolngt
have fo much unbridled and indulged this
vein of ridicule^ as to render themfelves ridi«
culous; and by ever forcing either hearers
or readers with their farcical mimickries^ to an
unwilling compliance of grinning, gigglingt
and laughing with thetDi have, in the end,
funk fo low or become fo rude, as to be
laughed at with fcorn and abhorrence by
them ; efpecially when they perceive, how
likely it is to be their own cafe j and how
much in danger themfelves, their reputations^
or any of their company ever are, either pre-
fent or abfent, under fuch difpofitions, to the
like derifion and defamation. Such precau-
tions may need fo much niore to be regarded,
by how much flronger the temptations ar^
to tranigrefs them ; and thefe general heads
upon thofe attradtive topicks of burlefque in
fublime argumentS| or banter in feriou^
difcourfe, inducing to fome moderation, or
reftriftion, and confinement of them to pro-
per objcdls, will not be thought to prefs too
heavily upon them, by thofe who have read .
how they have been handled by Sir William
Vi^emple^ Mr. Dryden, and qth^r moft able
and approved judges/ Much lefs is this di*
greflion meant to refleft, with the leaft dif?
agreeable warmth, upon any performance of
^t. Cotton's in this kind, as he engaged his
pen niuch inore in fober profe, tl^an ill all
bis
hb poetry : but, if kindly accepted, aa^t ii
intended, it may not altogether be unfe;^
viceable to thofe whom h»cafier it may
paore nearly concern.
Yet a little further, and more particularly
upon^he progrefs and entrance into England
of this exotick difguife of wit, under the
title of burlefque, not improbably derived
from the Italian Burla, or Burlefca. When
it had revelled through Italy for above a
century, and climbed over the Alps^ it foon
Overrun France^ found that rank or luxuri-
ant foil fo thriving, and proved fuch a daintjf
ragoo to their fuperfine tafte, that there
was no rooting it out, or bringing it under
any moderate reduftion, for twenty years at
^ leaft. In the midft of this career we arc
told, the frenzy ran fo high, that no book-
feller would meddle with any poetical com-
pofition without burlefque; infomuch,
that the Crucifixion itfelf could not efcapc
it *. But how bold and alarming foever the
title of that performance here referred to
might appear, it proved but a deception to
the libertine readers, when they found it
a mifconflrudion, to conclude, that folema
fubjed was treated with levity and irreve-
* La pajjion de nojire Seigneur. En vers burlefques,
Parisy 8vo, 1649. See ^j/w^r's Short View of Tra-
gedy, cap. I," Alfo Biographia Gallica, Vol. i. 8vo,
'1752. p. Il8r
' ^ rence.
I xxvi ]
rence, because the common idea or concept
lion of this ftik might bear fucbi a fportive
implication $ for at that time all the JPr^;^^^.
verification, which was confined to eight
or nine fyllables, efpecially with fo many of
their difTyllable^ or double liumes^ was called
burlefque verfe; and indeed their heroick
verfe is little better lor the fame reafon, and
partly for their ill-chofen meafurc and ca-
dence; as father J?^//;?^ and others of their
beft criticks, have obferved.
We are informed that this burldfque flile
was begun in France by . St. Amant ; and
that it was accufed, in him^ with its mofl;
common defedtj of being too low and vul*
gar : but Scarron, ftriking out a more po*
lite fp^ics of it, heightened with a brighter
mixture of wit and humpur» about the
beginning of our civil wars, recovered and
cftablithed its credits It thence grew into
fuch high requeft for its fiiccefsfizi opera*
tionsj that, like our ballads, it was ufed as
a mofl ready expedient and effeftual ca-^
tholiconi to aHuage and appe^fe all tuf bulent
humours of any party in the body politick,
during all the wars of Fans, and the dit.
putes pf cardinal Mazarine's miniftry, no-v
thing being equal to it for the diipatch of
bufinefs. It was ufed as a terrible artillery
againft that crafty Italian, and a fplay-foot^d
jhime came xrofs him fometimes, like a
chain-
[ xxvii J
chain -fliot, where a fpeech in parliament
dropped without execution.
And yet this meteor of burlefque did not
bla2;e long in that horizon^ after the death
of Scarron ; but then it rofe in ours, witU
greater refulgence, in the matchlefs Hudi-*
bras. The ficft part of this poem was pub-8-
]t (hed abou t three years after Scarron^ death *,
and about twelve months before Mr. Cotton'^
work appeared from the prefs ; when the
humour was fo advantageoufly aninsated^
^nd, as it were, naturalised, by Mr. ButUr%
and thctafte of the town fo favourably pre-*
pared to receive and reliih any tolerable imi^
tations, that Mr. Cottons performance was
thought, by fome, to meet, in part, with
the fpcccfsful reception it did, for attending
or coming forth, under the um'bragc or
protedtion, as it was beheld of that poem ;
though its intriniick merit, by others, was
believed fiifficient to recommend it to the
pqblick. Whether his fccond book of F/r-?
jf/7, io converted, was printed while he liv-;
ed, I know not; but read, that there wa^
»n edition of it after his death -f*. We arc
informed that, together with the firft book
of /^/r^/y,*he alfo found encouragement t6
publish the fourth, fo travefticd, in Odavo,
* In 0£lavo, 1663.
f In Oftavo, 1692. Vid. CataL Libr, Imprejf. in
J^ibl, BodL FoL OxQJu 1738. p. 320.
1667,
l xxviH ]
r667, and that this volume was repiintei
ibme years after. Among the generality of
readers, thefe poems, and others of his in
this ftite, were efteemed equal with, if noc
I^eyond, what had appeared from the Ifa^
Hans and the French among us ; or . in our
ether mock heroicks and counterfeits of
Butkr, whether in the Hcgan-Moganidei^
or Dutxbf the.Scofcb, Iri/b, Welch Hudibras^
Butler's Gboft^ ox smy other in this fpecies
of writing. The charader which Langhaine
has giiren us of Cotton's Scarronides^ is as
follows : '< Though the title feems to imply
^' as if this poem was an iinitation of Scar'^
^* ron, who has tTanflated eight books of
** Virgil in the fame manner ; yet thofc
** who wHl compare both thefe pieces, wiH
^ poffibly find, that he has not only ex*
^ cceded the French, but all others that
^ have attempted in that kind, to the re^
'* fcrve of the incomparable Butler, the
^ famed author of Hudibras *.**
• Our author now applying his thoughts
more fedately, had undertaken in the leifure
of a country life, to translate a -curious and
copious piece of French hiftory ; but before
he had gone through a fourth part of it, he
was called away by fome employment or
poft that was conferred upon him, ^s wp
* Dv^m, Poets, .p. 76.
may leara from his own words ^. After &e
wa« diicharged of that employment, he was
again interrupted for fome confiderablc
tkne^ from proceeding upon the faid biftoryt
by a- tedious and uncomfortable (icknefs,
which long indifpofed him to fini(h it ; but
he ib earneftly renamed his defign, after he
was recovered of bis diforder, that before ther
end of 1 669, he con(^pleted the tranflation ;
aud it ^as publi(hed the next year, under thef
title of, "Tie Htfiory ef the Life of the Duke tf
Bfperhon, the great favwrite of Prance, in
twelve books; cDntaining the hiJioryofFt^v^c^
^c^y. Englithedby C^irr/^/(^//^;2,£fq;and
printed in Folio, ^tyo. It was written by
the duke's fccreiary, Monfieur G^r^r^j held
been publifhed about fifteen years before Mr ^'
Cotton Kanilated it, and iince had other tA\^
tions in France i being accounted a faithful;
accurate, and weU -penned work. The Erig^
iiflj tranflation is dedicated, by our author^
to his countryman Gilbert Sheldon^ arch-
bifiiop of Canterbury y becaufe, befides the
motives of bis patron's great virtues, of
affability and beneficence, he was al(a
prompted thereto by an honeft vanity, that
it ihould be known, how private foever his
* In his Pref. to The Lift of the Duke ^^Efpcrnon,
t From 1598, where tyAvilla cqafesj, to 16+2.
life
[ x«ii J
that he wis driven back till the wind
Veered *.
He next publi(hed his tranflation of the
tragedy oi Horace^ from the French oi Peter
CorneiUei notwithftanding that it had been
tranflated before by Sir Wilham Lower ^ and
Mrs. Catherine Philips ^ the celebrated Orinda.
He is reckoned to have much furpafled the
knight's performance, and equalled at leaA
the lady's, though with great modefly and
generofity he gives her's the preference. He
did not fend it to the prefs till five years
after he had tranflated it ; and he dedicates
it to his dear fifter Mrs. Stanhope Hut chinfon^
perhaps the fiftcr he was fb fond ofr It was
publidied in Quarto, 1671, being, perhaps,
a more correct edition than that ptinted in
a fmaller form the year before. A more
enlarged account of it may be feen in Lang*'
haine, and the names of thofe ancient hiflo-
rians, from whom the plot. or argument is
drawn *f*. I meet with no appearance that he
made in print till three years after, and then
came out his verfion of a little French novel,
as I take it, named, l^he Fair One of Tunis,
§r the generous mijlrefsf Oftavo, 1 674. I dp
not now remember whether it is dedicated
• See his Voyage to Ireland^ in three Cantos^ bur-
l^fque, among his poems, from p. 168 to 2X1. -
t Dram. Po^ts, p. 74, 75.
(a
[ icxxiii ]
to any eminent perfoa he was known to,
not having feen it of many years.
The fruits of his pen now appeared agairj
ii) hiftory ; and he obliged the publick with
his tranflation of the Commentaries of Bhik
dcMonluck, Marefcbal of France i whereiij
are deicribedj all the combats^ rencounters^
Jkirmijhes, battles, Jieges, ajfaults, fcalados j
the taking znA furprijing of towns ^nd for-f
trejfes ; as alfo the defences and affault^ of the
befieged, 6?c, printed in FoliQ, 1 674 *r The
author was a vivacious enterprifing Gafcon^
and did command in fome of the wars he
treats of. He arrogates much fometimes tQ
his own fagacious condudl; but his arts of
magnifying little difficulties and deliverances^
are not imperceptible to difcerning eyes,
through all the flender cpbwebs of his own
pplitical exaggerations. He had one or
more potable faculties of fonie modern warr
riors; being very quick-fighted in the apr
proach of danger, and very quick-footed tQ
^void it. For among his beft ftratagems iqi
the arts of war, his greaeft dexterity feems
to have lain fometioies \xi the arts of flight|
pr elfe he had never rofe to be Marefchal
of France^ as he intimates himfelf : which is
more particularly exemplified in his runagate
fafety at the fiege of Boulogne , yet a|fo in
♦ Again, Fol 1688.
Z , reviling
[ xxxiv ]
reviling the Engli/b valour, and other g^fca'*^
nades, the lord Herbert has very decently
dlfplayed *. Nor will Naudteus allow the
affairs he has difcribed are fo wonderful as
the author would have them believed : yet
others agree that, with proper allowance^
for fome partSr there are often good intelli-i
gences to be met with in thofe commentaries!
This verfion needs no encomiums here, after
what has been faid by Mr. Flatman^ in his
verfes on the work of the author, to the
worthy tranflator -f-, C. Cotton^ Efq;
In the next year appeared two little books
more of his writing ; the fir ft in profe, called
n^be Planter s Manual \ being infiruStions
ioi cultivating all forts oi fruit -trees ^ 8vo,
1675, relating to the propagation and im^
provement of fuch trees in their adapted
foils ; a fubjcd: both natural and neceflary,
to engage the confideration of all thofe wnp*
are defirous to enrich and adorn their gar-
dens, orchards, and other inclofures about
their eftates. The other piece is written in
verfe, and publifhed under the title of, Bur^
lefque upon Burlejque^ or the Scoffer Scoffed ;
being fome of Luciano Dialogues put into
* Hift of K. Henry VIII. Fol 1683. P- S^S- Sub
Ann. 1544-
+ T. Flatmah's Poems and Son^s, 2d edit, ^c, Svo^
1676. p. 129. on which volume there is a commenda-
tory poem prefixed, among others, by C, Cotton.
6 Englijb
{ «CKV I
Mf^tifi) fiifitan ; for the confolation of tfeofc
who had rather laugh and be merry 9 than be
Merry zx\ A wife. Printed in iimo, ^^75- -As
the author, who knew his own teinpe:r, calls
bimfelf, in his P/etuioJogiJia, an incontinenc
laugher * ; Ca/per Bartbins^ who has givei^
a moderate, aad perhaps equitable character
of his philofophy^ might have fome foun-
dation to -call him, LXeorum hominumqu^ ir-
rifbremt a decider both of gods and men.
Thofe dialogues, in Englijhj have paffedfive
^editions at leaA; and, our tranflator, in his
Prologue^ thought the icenes in them might
pafs for plays, with thofe which were writ*
ten by a certain ducheis, who was gone to
write in a iiew world of her own making ;
by whom it is fuppofed, he meant the dutch-
efsof Newcafile^ who died about two year«
before this publication, and had partly writ
a kind of play« among many others^ called
VChe Blazing World ij-. As he h ated all cor^
rupters of manners, and the dialogues were
wrote in hafte, he hopes fome w.ords, whicn
might ^fcape in the heat of fancy, may be
winked ati and fome of his readers have
wiflied, that he had omitted, or altered tlie
dialogue between -^/>a//c? and Bacchusz ^how-
ever, as he informs us in his.£/»/y<9£^»^/that aj|
t Langhaxncy p. 392, 393.
Z 2 W
[ XXXVl 1
his other writings of this kind having met
with publick approbation, he meant here-
after, to fet forth Lucians Dialogues of the
Dead', but they never appeared under his
hand, whatever was performed afterwards
of that kind, by Tom Brown, and others.
But now, his old friend Mr. Ifalion hav-
ing propofed to pubH(h a new edition of
his book of Fijhing, engaged Mr. Cotton to
oblige all lovers of the iport, with a coai-
munication of his long pra^ice and obfer-
vatibns thereon ; that the manner of exerci-
iing the art, with the different tackle, baits,
and ufagc thereof, ii> the more northern
rivers,- might be known, as vf<\\ as iri the
fbuth. Accordingly, to Wah on s Complete
[Angler, or CQntei7ip lathe Mans Recreation^
was added ihtfecondpart ; htiviginflruSiions
how to angle for 2iTrout or Grayling ma clear
Jlream-, by Charts Cofton^ of Beres/ord, in
the Peak, Efq; dedicated to that virtuous
man, the father of all anglers, and they
were printed together iri OBdyo, ^PjP i
with thft initial letters, erigraved in the title
page of Mr. Cottons part, of both their
names, interwoven in a cypher, as it wa^
carved over^the door of his FtJktrig^H^ufe,
on the (wift and limpid riv^v Dove. To
pafs any judgment here upon Ills perfqrrii-
ance, may be needleis, after what has been
(aid in its praife by fFaltori himfelf, Lang^
bame^
r xxxvii 1
paine^ and others^ who have given us ne\v
impreflions of it, or had occafion, in other
books on the fame fabjeft, to follow or
confirm any inflrudlions therein : among
^hom» I (hall mention only one gentleman,
who, fpeaking occafionally of this book,
fays of Mr. Cotton^ that *' he was, without
** doubt, the moft laborious Trout-catcher,
** if not the moft experienced angler, both
** for Trout and Grayling, ihzi England tvtt
'^ had *:'
Further to avoid the importunities which
would ibmetimes intrude too abruptly upon
him, as he often pathetically complains, he
would wander from the calm attractions of
his fmooth ftreams and rivers, to the wilder,
more rugged, and ftupendous profpedls and
produftions of nature, fo rife in the neigh-
bourhood about him ; advancing his invefti-
gations not only above, and upon, but under
the earth; through the woods, mountains,
rocks, caves, gulphs, mines, and quarries,
which there, on every fide, furrounded him.
Then feeing the bewildering growth to which
time had iufFered thofe romantick fcenes to
(hoot forth, he thought they would as pro-
perly fall under the cognizance of poetry, as
bifhop Nicbolfon thinks they wOv^ld under
* 7hi Complete Ftjhermarty 8?c. by James Saunders^
Efqi O^a'Or)^ 1724. p. 94.
Z J that
[ xxxviii J
that of natural biftary * : fo m cmulatfort
of Mr. Hobbes's Latin poem, DeMirabilibus
Pecci "f-y Mr. Cc^ton published his Englijh
one, containing, The Wonders of the Peak %.
'Tis written in good eafy verfe of ten fyl-
iables > defcribing the /even wanders \\, in a
natural, lively, and pidturefque manner, as in
fo many landikips. The feat and gardens at
Cbatfworthy with their noble ford, are prin-
cipally celebrated > alio M^rjr queen of Scots,
Ibme time abiding at Buxton, for the benefit
of its mediciaal waters; and there are three
or four lines in praife of Mr. Hobbes, fwr
the perfpicuity of his ftyle, &e.
But now, our author having prefcrlbed
hrmfelf a more extenfive taik, gsve us a
new verfion of all Montaigne's Effays : it
made its appearance in three volumes 0^j<z;^,
3685; and was fo acceptably received, the
fir ft tranllation by Jobn Fiona, being grown
* EngLUxVi. Llbr. p. il.
j^ ^artOj 1666. 7,d eiit. reprinted ynth zn EngHjh
tranflation, by a perfon of quality, 4/9, 1678. Thcfe
was alfo the Nonjuch Wonder of the Peakin Derby/hire,
by H* A, %voy 1669.
X ^arto^ 1 68 1, i&Sjr afterwards with cuts, ia
8^i;/7, the 5 th edk. with Scarronides and .Lucian^
J734-
11 Mdssy Monsj Barathrum^ binus FomyAntraquebind.
HofiQES»
That is, Chaffworth'houfeyMam'tor^Eld^n^hole^Bux^
ton, and TFeedon-wells,, th^ DcV^s-arp, and P^w/'s-ie//.
obfolcte^
[ xxxlx ]
obiblete^ that it afterwards ran through two
or three editions more *. There is a fhort
account of the French author^ with a dedi*
^cation by Ml*. Cotton^ to Charles earl of
Hallifax^ and a polite anfwer by his lord-
fhip to the tranflator, prefixed, as I remeni«
bcr^ for the work is not in any Engltjh
edition now before me.
Thefe are all the books of his I have met
with^ which were publiftied by him during
his life I but there are two pofthumous pub-
lications of his writing, which for con-
nexion fake with his other performances^
and lead the chain of his literary labours
fhould be unlinked or too much interrupted,
may be here fpoken of, before I mention the
time of his death. One is, his Poems onje^
'veral Occafions \^ often above referred to.
They appear to be genuine ; though perhaps
too inadvertently, if not furreptitioufly pub-
li{hed; without that choice, correction, and
order, in which the author's friends and fa-
mily would have feen them fent abroad.
For the editor of the next book to be here
fpoken of, in his preface before it, has the
-following reftedion upon the publiflier of
thefe poems: " Had the perfonwho difpofcd
•* of them, confulted Mr. Cotton % relations,
* ^693, 171 1, 1723, lie.
t Priiited in a large OSfavo^ 1^93*
Z 4 ♦J both
1
^^ both his memory andt the world had been
'^ ttiore obliged to him ; having obftfuded
" the publifhing of a collcftion very difFe-*
•* rent, and wcll-chpfcn by the aathaf,
'^ with a preface by himfelf, and all copied
*' for the prefs ; which would have mad^
<< them as well received^ as his other per-»
«« formances ; who knew how to diflin^
** guifli between writing for his own diver-
^* fion, and the entertainment of others;
*' and had a better judgment than to truft
^* any thing abroad^ unworthy himfelf or
•** his readers."
Yet this colleAion^ as it is^ contains many
inflrudtive, ingenious, and agreeable poems
in it. It may be perceived in many of them
that he was an humane and hofpitable» io^
ciable and pleafant companion i but too im-
provident in his oeconomyj which much
embarraifed and reduced his eftate. As he
was virtuoufly trained, he was free from pride,
fraud, and oppreffion : fpeaks of his friends,
dearly bought, and of his enemies, very
movingly, that he had (hewed charity and
compaffion to thofe who had none for him ;
was ftruggling under the ingratitude of fuch,
whom he had bountifully befriended and
trufted ; and fueing to thofe who bad been
his fuitors. Thar, though he had ftill left
all competent or neceiTary accommodations,
and wanted liot the fupports of life, yet w^s
he
I
he denied the comforts of it ; being cnfnat*-*
ed in bonds and eternal contention, by
his clamorous and mercilefs creditors. Thefe
bitter fenfations and fufFerings of a gene-^
rous fpiritf are too plainly vifible in fome of
his eclogues * and odes ; his admired flanzas
on retirement -f, to his friend fValton > and
more efpccially, thofe upon melancholy j bope^
poverty J, . &c.
There are alfo feveral poems in this vo-
lume, written to, and upon divers noble
and honourable, eminent and memorable
perfbns, relations and friends, befides thofe
before mentioned. Such as, his epiftles ta
his friend "John BradjhaWy Efq; one of
them on his journey to Stafford/hire ; ano-
ther on The great Froji^ &c. || feveral to IVfr.
Walton^ To the countefs of Cbefierfield, on
the birth of her firft fon. On the death of
Ti6^/fftf J earl of OJfory^ who died in i68a..
• But whether fo well rewarded for it, as Mr.
Flatman was for his elegy thereupon §, who
received a prefent, in return of it, from his
lord(hip's father, James duke of Ormonde
♦ Sec his Poems J p, ic8, in the chara£ler of
Clotten.
t Ideniy p. 133.
. X Ibid. 263, 369, 303, i^c.
II In- 1683.
§ In Si PinJarick ode, Fclioy 1681 ; reprinted in the
•third edition of hi^Paemsy 8vo> 1682.
of
of a mourning ring, with a diamond in it,
worth an hundred pounds *, I know not.
His two poems on counfellor Marriof, the
great eater of Graf$-Inn. EfHtaph on his
dear aunt, Anne Stanhope i highly in her
praife. His journey into the Peaky to Sir
jtfton Cockaine ; and two more, on his plays.
On the death of his dear uncle, Mr. Rad^
cliffe Stanhope. To his friend Mr. Lefy^ on
his pidture of the excellently virtuous lady
Jfabella Thynn. That eminent artift, after-
wards knighted, drew alfo the pidture of
Mr. Cotton^ as 1 have heard *f^; and that it wajs
not only fometime in the pofTeffion of Sir
jljion Cockaine^ at AJhburney but is alfo fliU
in being. Epitaph on Annis Roiin, the
hermaphrodite, who, as our poet fays, got
himfelf with child, firft of a fon, and then
a daughter. He was called by that nick-
name, as 1 have read in other poems and
pamphlets of ^hofe times, from his felling
drams of annis-fecd water about the ftrects..
There are alfo feme other charadleriftical
poems; for which thofe, who are fufther cu-
rious about them, are hereby referred to the
♦ Jthen. Oxon. Vol. II. Col. 825.
t It is very true, that Sir Peter Lei^ painted Mr, Cot--
ton*s pifturc; ^nd, through the favour of the proprietor
thereof, Brooke Bootbbyy of Ajhhurne-ball^ Efq \ mc have
been enabled to give the print prefixed to the fecond
part of thh work,
book
[ xIHi ]
book ilfclf. The tranflations arc chiefly from
Horace f Martialy Catullus ^ jiufonius, yoannei
SecunJus, Sir Thomas More^ Buchanan^ and
fcvcral French poets, Italians^ &c. The whole
ends with The Battle ofTury inFrance^ con-
Ming of near an hundred and twenty ftan*
zas^ of eight lines i with a poem prefixed,
to his honoured friend the author, by Tfoo-^
mas Bancroft ; who tells him, that like a
true bred Stanhope^ he writes in ftate with-
out running into redundancies. Langbaine*%
Ihort chara<fter and diflindion of him in
thefe compofitions, is, that he was an ex-
cellent ly rick poet ; but particularly famous
for burlefque.
His lafl performance was a tranflation
from the French^ of The Memoirs of the
Sieur De Pontss, who fervcd in the army
fix and fifty years^ under king Henry IVT.
Lewis XIIL and Leivis XIV. containing
mzny remarkable pajfages relating to the war^
the court, and the government of thofe princes,
faithfully Engliflied, by Charles Cotton,
Efq; *. The volume is dedicated by Beref-
ford Cotton, to the duke of Ormondi the faid
tranflation having been recommended to, and
requefted of, Mr. Cotton, the editor's father,
^ Theft Memoirs appeared not till fome few years
after the tranflator's death. The Jmprirmttir was
granted in July I993> and they were publiflicd in
FqUo, 1694.
by
[ xllv 3
r
by the old duke» his grace's grandfather^
The author was a captain in the French
king's guards^ and commiflary general of the
Sw^s troops. He pafTed his long Hfe in camp
and courts and died in religious retirement *«
The editor in his ingenious preface, antici-
pates and renaovcs two objedions. One is,
the want of dignity, or high rank in the
fubjedt of his memoirs; aiid the other, which
we refer to, is the delay of publication. He
has fome fenfible reflediions upon the vulgar
error of titles and preferments being thought
the only marks or meafures of merit, which
would make undignified, or unfuccefsfui
• virtue, none at all; andfet up chance, par-
tiality, or a powerful intereft, as the only
ftandard of judgment. But if true courage
and conduA, inviolable fidelity and gene-
rous friendfliip, be ftill charadiers of any fi-
gurc^ thefe memoirs may have the advantage
of many, written by more pompous writers.
Thofe engagements in life which arc be-
tween both extreams, produce diredions
more exemplary, applicable, and inilruc-
tive, to the conduft of the generality.
That, worth is to be refpefted, wherever we
find it ; and a noble foul is not the Ieis> but
the more fo, when it fhines by its own lights
without any of that borrowed luftre, which
is fo often owing to greati^fs and fortune^
* In the }rear 1670, and of bis age 92.
Befides>
[ xlv 3
r
Befides, 'twould be a double hardfhip, that|
not only the author's fortunes in life, but
his memory after it, (hould fufFer for thofe
difappointments, which were chiefly owing
to his virtue and conftancy, and the fpiteful
rcfentments of an arbitrary and intriguing
ftatefman *. ' To this purpofe, writes the
editor aforefaid of thefe memoirs. 'Tis vi-
ifible that the conclufipn of them was written
by fbme other hand, perhaps an ecclefiaftick^
who might revife the whole ; but whoever
did, 'tis thought he was not altogether fo
corre£t in the chronology, or candid in fbme
of the characters, as might be wifhed ; and
though the whole has been afcribed to
pthers r|-, it does not fufficiently appear from
undoubted authorities, but the Sieur de Pon^
tis was the original author.
This compendious review of thofe books
Mr. Cotton compofed or tranflated,. which
have come to my knowledge^ is perhaps co-
pious enough in this place* All that may
pe needful to add, are, a fevir circumftances
pr events reported to have occurred in the
jpourfe of his life ; which being fuftained
only on the unfteady wings of tradition, or
the memoirs of fome communicative per-
* Card. RichUiu*
t See Langlet du ]^refmy*s New Method ofjludying
Htftory. Tranflated by Dr. BJiQh% Rawltnjonj Vol. if.
%voy 1728. Pj 257*
fons^
[ xlvi J
fim^y who have converfed with fereral aged
inhabitants in his neighbourhood, and have
not been inferted in this fummary account
for want of confirmation, and dire<^ion ia
what parts thereof to f<|ttle them, according
to the regular order of time, they are here
offered for fuch admiffion, when further
enquiry and authority fhall afcertain their
right to the fame.
And firfl:, we fhould be willing to know
what foundation there is for the report
that an aunt of Mr. CotUn's was fo difoblig-
ed at fome refleflion he had made upon
her, in his burlefque poems, or elfewhere,
that it loft him five hundred pounds ^er ^«-
num, which (he designed to have bequeathed
him in her will. That there was any thing
ib difguftful in his faying queen DtWs ruff
was like Mifs Kokan/s of tbe Peaky I can-
not apprehend ; nor that any difagreeable ap-
plication was intended, in the reprefentatioti
of that queen's hanging herfelf ; neither do
I remember^ any thing tending to fuch dero-
gation in his defcriptivc poem of the Peak}
and yet, 1 have heard fuch a report among
fome gentlemen in his neighbourhood, above
thirty years paft, and the like from others
in London fince. 'Tis faid alfo, that his
debts, incumbrances, andobUgations^broughjt
him for a while, under fome reft rain t, at
one of the counters in this cilty ; and that
he
[ xlvii ]
he inscribed, over his apartment therein, a
diftich, importing, that it was a place where
none could thrive -, a grave for the living, and
a hell upon earth. If he was any time (o
confined, and the thoughts of his condition
any where exhaled in verfe, it might perhaps
be in fome of thofd poems of complaint be-
fore referred to ; and fome have believed him
to be the witty author of The Counter-fcuffie.
That poem was printed twenty years before
his death, and appears in a later edition to
have been written by another hand *, much
in the humour of Samuel Speed's King* s-- Bene A
Scuffle, or forne among the poems of cap-
tain Alexander Radcliffe of Grays- Inn. And
whether he was under any confinement be-
fore, or after his marriage with his feccmd
lady, W€ need not now be kept in fufpence
to difcufs, unlefs 1 had propofed a larger
plan for this little narrative ; but it is further,
reported, that this lady had a jointure of fif-
teen hundred pounds a year, which (he (ba-
red with him, and out of which the burden,
of fome engagements might poflibly be
lightened! As for Mr. BeresfordCottonj wha.
fet forth his father's tranflation of the me-
moirs laft mentioned, it is alfo faid, that he
had a company of foot given him in the
* Thi Counter-fcuffle ; towhich is added, The Countef'''
Rat J by R. S. ^toy 1680, 1693, See alfo Dryden^s
Mifcellanies. -
carl
[ xlvili ]
Ctrl of Derby ^ new-raifed regiment. In ting
William % wars ; and that one of Mr. Cbarks
Cotton's daughters was married to that emi-
nent divine Dr. G^org^ Stanhope^ dean of
Canterbury. There is no will of his entered
in the prerogative office %l Doff on Commons^
but we lind he died ia- the parifh of Su
James, Weftmififierf and in the year before
the revolution. A copy of the adminiftrar
tipn a<ft is as follows ; <^ Adminiftration of
his goods was granted the i^th o£ Sep^
t ember 1687, to Elizabeth Bludwortb,
his principal creditrix : the honourable
Mary, countefs dowager of Ardglas, his
^' widow ; Beresjord Cotton, Efq ; Olive
** Cotton, Catharine Cotton, Jane Cotton^
^^ and Mary Cotton, his naturaj $uid lawful
*' children, firft renouncing."
More might have been added to this fu-
perficial effay ; but it may be more eligible
that it (hould be afked, why (o fcanty^ than
why fuperfluQus ? and, in a little repaft,
intended only for refre(hment, it may be
better that a gueft ftiould rife with an ap-r
petite, than^a furfeit. Therefore I reft.
€i
€€
€€
€€
Sir, Yoixt's, &c.
W, Q.
To
■^Vi!
To my moft Worthy
FATHER* and FRIEND, ^
Mr. ISAAQWALTON^
The Elder.
SIR,
E I N G you were pleafed,
fbme years paft, to grant
me your free leave to do
what I have here at*
tempted; and obferving you never
retrain any promife, when made in
* The reader wiJl fee the reaion wh/ Cttton sail*
tVa^tn his father, in a fubfequeot note.
A a
favour
I Tie Epiflle Dedicatory*
favour even of your meaneft friendki
I accordingly exped to &e thefe
following particular dire<Stions foi'
the taking of a Trout, to wait upon
your better and more general rules
for all forts of angling : and, though
mine be neither fo perfed, fo well
digefted, nor indeed fo handfbmely
coucht, s& they noight have been, in
{o long a time as fince your leave was
granted, yet I dare affirm them to
be generally true : and they had ap-
peared too in fomething a neater
drefs, but that I was furprized with
the fudden news of a fudden new
.edition of your Complete Angler ; £o
that, having but a little more than,
ten days time to turn me in, and rub
up my memory \ for, in truth, \
have.
.^t%e EpiftU Dedicatory, \i
liave not, in all this long time,
though I have often thought dn't,
ft
and almofl as dften relblved to go
prefently about it, I was fbrc'id upon
the inftant to fcribble what I here
prefent you : which I have alfb en-
deavoured to accommodate to your
own method. And, if mine be clear
enough for the honeft brothers of the
aagle readily to underftand, which is
the only thing I aim at, then 1 have
my end, and fhall need to make no
further apology ; a writing of this
kind not requiring, if I were mafter '
of any fuch thing, any eloquence to-
fet it off, or recommend it : fo that
if you, in your better judgment, or
kindnefs rather, can allow it paflable,
for a thing of this nature, you will
A a 2 then
lii The Epiftle Dedicatory,
then do me honour' if the cypher,
fixed and carved in the front <^ my
little fifhing-houfe, may be here ex-
plained : and to permit me to attend
you in publick, who, in private, have
ever been, am, and ever refolve to
be.
Sir,
Tour mofi affeB'tonate Son^
0( March 1 675 6, -^"^ nervam^
Gharlesf Cotton.
TO
T O
My moil Honoured Friend^
Charles Cotton, Efq\
SIR,
OJJ new fie I have returned you
your very pleafant and ufeful dif-
courfe of The Art of Fly-fiftiing,
printed juji as it was fent me;
Jor I Aave heenfo obedient to your defires, as
to endure all thepraifes you ba^e ventured ttf
Jix upon me in it. And% npben I have thanked
you for tbepty as the effe&s of an undiffembled
love ; tbien^ let me tell you^ Sir, that I wilt
really endeavour to live up to the cbaraBer
ycu have given of me, if ther^ were no other
reafont yet for 4 his alone, that yofs, that love
rnefo well, and always think what youfpeak^
may not, for my fake, fuffer by a mijlake in
your judgment .
And, Sir, I have ventured to fill apart of
your margin, by way of parapbraje, for the -
A a 3 reader $
[ liv ]
reader^ s clearer unierftanding the Jituatton^
both ofyourjijbing'boufef and the plea/ant'-
nefs of that you dwell in. And I have ven^
turea alfo to give biftfa copy ofverfes t bat you
were pleafed to fend me, nowfome years paji^
in which be may fee a good picture of both ;
and fo much of your own mind toOj as wilt
make any reader f that is bleji with a generous
foul, to love you the better. Iconfefs^ that for '
doing this you may juftly judge me too bold*, if
you do, I will fay fo too ; and fo far commute for
my offence^ tbat^ though I be more than a bun^
dred miles from you^ and in the eighty-third
year of my age, yet I will forget both, an4
next month begin a pilgrimage to beg your par-
don ; for I would die in your favour^ and tilf
then will live^
London f c « n
April 19, 1676. ^J*»
Your moft afFe£kionate
Father and Friend.
Isaac Walton^
THE
* > -'
(lo
TH»
RETIREMENT.
Ill n
STANZES IRREGULIERS^
T O
Mr. ISAAC WALTON,^
I.
[JreweU tbou bufy worlds and pay
We never meet again :
Herelcaneaty and JUef^ and fray ^
And do more good in one Jhort day^
Than be who bis whole age oui-wears ^
Upou the moft confpicuous theatres^
Where nought but vanity and vice appears.
Ccod Cod ! bow fiveet are all things hen f
How beautiful fbe fields appear !
How cleanly do we feed and lie f '
Lord ! what good hours do we keep f
How quietly we fieep I
Whai peace ! what unanimity /
How innocent from the lewd faJbio9
Js till cur bufinefs^ all our recreation /
^ ^ A a 4 «!•
[Ivi]
III.
Oi, bow bapfy ber^s our leifur$ f
Ob^ bow innocent our phafure !
Ob J ye valliesy Ob^ ye mountains !
Ob^ ye grovfs^ and cbryjld fountains i
How I love at liber ty..
By turns to come and v\fi( ye !
IV.
Dear foUtude^ the fciiVs left friends
Tbat man acquainted with himfelf deft make 5
And, all bis Maker* s wonder to intend^
With tbee I here converfe at willy
And would be glad to do fo ftill^
For it is tbou alone that keep" ft the foul awak^.
V.
How calm and quiet a delight
Is it J alone^
To reads and meditate,^ and write^
By none offended^ and offending none !
To walk^ ride J fit^ or Jleep at one's own eafe I
Andf jdeqfing a man*s fe^^ none other to dijpleafiu
VI.
Ob my beloved nympb^ fair Dove I
Princefs of rivers ! bow I love
Upon thy ^flow^ry banks to licj
And view thy Jiher Jlreamy
When gilded by a fummer^s beani!
And in it all tby wanton fry^
Playing at liberty
And with my angle upon tbem^
The all (^ treachery
J ever learnt ^ indufiriot^ to try.
yii.
f IvU ]
vji;
Such JireamSj Rome* s yellow Tyber cannot Jbow^
Tie Iberian Tagus, or Ligurian Po ;
The Maefe, the Danube, and the Rhine,
Jre puddle -water all compared with thine :
And Loirc'j pure ftreams yet too polluted are
With thine much purer to compare :
The rapid Garonne, and the winding Seine,
Are both too meaH^
Beloved Dove, with thee
' To vie priority :
JViiy, Tame and Ifis, when conjoin^d^ fubmit^
And lay their trophies at thy Jilver feet.
VHI.
Oh my beloved rocks^ that rife
To awe the earth and brave the Jkies :
From fome afpiring mountain's crown^
How dearly do 1 lovCj
Giddy with pkafure to look down :
And from the vales to view the heights above /
Oh my beloved caves I from dog-ft^s heat^
And all anxieties^ my fafe retreat :
fFhat fafetyj privdcy^ what true delight^
In the artificial nighty
Tour gloomy entrails makcy
Have f taken J do I take !
How oft when grief has made me fly
To hide me from fpcieiy^
Ev'n of my dear eft friends y have 1
In your receffes friendly fbade^
All my forrows open laidy
A^d my moft fecrti woes intn^ed to ^our privacy I
[ Iviil ]
IX.
iMrd ! would men let me alone^
fVhaP. an over -happy one
Should I think myfelf to he^
Might lin this defer t place ^
fyhicb moft men in difcourje difgractf
Live but undifturVd and free I
Here in this deffis'd recefs^
Would U maugre winter^ s cold^
And the fummer^s worft ex€efsy
^ry to live out to fixty full years old!
And all the whili^
fVifbout an envious eye^
On any thriving under fortune s fmile^
Contented live^ and then contented die.
CC.
THE
THE
COMPLETE ANGLER:
OR, THE
Contemplative Man's Recreation.
PART II. *
CHAP. I.
PiSCATOR Junior, and Viator,
PlSCATO R.
^OU are happily overtaken,^ Sirt
K may a man be fo bold as to enquire
% how far you travel this way ?
P Fiaier. Yes fure. Sir, very freely ;
though it be a qucftion I cannot very
well refolve you, as not knowing myfelf how
far it is £0 Jfibem^ where 1 intend tp-night to
take up my inn.
Pi/cat.
• The reader will find this Second Pan written in a more
^rrcft fiilc di«p ihat'of ffmhemi which, tiioughi[h«
ii The Complete AtJOhtu'. Part If.
PifcaL Why then. Sir, feeing Fpcrceive you
to be a ftranger in thefe pares, I fhall take upon
me to inform .you, that from the town you lafl:
came through, . called Brebford *, it is five
mile;s -, and you . are not yt% abpve half a mile
on this fide.
Viat. So much! I was told it was but ten
miles from Derby \ and methinks I have rode
:;hnoft ib far already.
• pjftr.t, 0> Sir, find no fault with large mea-
fure 01 good iand, vvlucii Derbyjhire abounds in,
as much as mod counties of England.
Viat. It may be fo ; and good land^ I coafefs,
affords a plcalant profptd : but by your good
leaye. Sir, large meafurc of foul way is noc al-
togtfcher fo acceptable.
Pifcat.. True, Sir, but the foul way ferves to
juftity the fertility of the foil, according to the
proverb, " There is good land where there is
*' foul way ;" and is of good ufe to inform you
of the riches of the country you are come into,
and of its continual travel and traffick to the
country-town you came from ; which is alfo very
obfervable by the fulnefs of its road, and the
loaden borfes you meet t^tty where upon the
way.
Viat. Well, Sir, I will be content to think as
well of your country as you woMld <iefire ; and I
fliall have a great deal of reaibn both to think and
its beauties, it tnuft be confefled^ is frequently loofe, an^"^
fomectBies ungrammaucal. An actempt to correft it woulj
•have led the editor, by infenfible degrees, to forget that hit
aathor was a plain, artlefs, unafFe£ted writer, and to have
ijupofed upon his readers that for fFditon\ which he would
not have known were he living to rejid it^
\ • Biaies/lrd. S/elmanU FiUare.
to
Chap. I. *rhe Complete Angler. ^
tOi fpeak very well of you, if 1 may obtain the
happincfs of your company to the fore-mentioned
place, provided your affairs lead you that way,
and that they will permit you to flack your pace,
out of complacency to a traveller utterly a ftran-
^er in thefe parts, and who am Hill to wander
further out of my own knowledge.
Pifcat. Sir, you Invite me to my own advan-
tage, and I arti ready to attend you, my way
lying through that town; but my bufmefs, that
is, my home, fome miles beyond it : however, I
iball have time enough to lodge you in your
quarters, and afterwards to perform my own
journey. In the mean time, may I be fo bold
as to enquire the end of your journey ?
ViaL 'Tis into Lancajhire^ Sir, and about
(bme bulinefs of concern to a near relation of
mine : for I aiTure you, I do not ufe to take fa
long journies as from Jtffex^ upon the Angle ac«
count of plcafure.
Fifcat. From th^ince. Sir ! I do not then won-
der you fliould appear diflatisfied with the length
of the miles, and the foulnefs of the way : though
I am forry you fbould begin to quarrel with them
fo foon ; for believe me. Sir, you will find the
miles much longer, and the way much worfe,
before you come to your journey's end.
Vial. Why truly. Sir, for that I am prepared
to expert the worft •, but methinks the way is
mended, fince 1 had the good fortune to fall into
your good company.
Pifcat. You are not obliged to my company
for rf\at 5 but bccaufc you are already paft the
worft:, and the greateft part of your way to youi:
lodging.
Viat.
4 Th CoMi^LETB AngIer. Part If.
Fiat. I am veiy glad to hear it, both for the
cafe of myfclf and my horfc ; but cfpecially
becaufe I may then expefb a freet enjoyment of
your converfation ; though the fhortnefs of the
way wUI, I fear, make me lofe it the foonen
Pi/caL That, Sir, is not worth your care; and
I am fure you deferve much better, for being
content with fo ill company : but we have al-
ready talked away two miles of your journey;
'for, from the brook before us, that runs at the
foot of this fandy hill, you have but three miles
to AJbbcrn.
Viat. I meet every where in this country with
thefe little brooks, and they look as if they were
full of fifli ; have they not Trouts in them ?
Pifcat. That is a queftion which is to be ex«
cufed in a ftrangcr, as you are ; otherwife, give
me leave to tell you, it would feem a kind of
affront to our country, to make a doubt of what
we pretend to be famous for, next, if not before,
our malt, wool, lead> and coal ; for you are to
under(Vand, that we think we have as many fine
rivers, rivulets and brooks, as any country what-
ever ; and they are all full of Trouts, and fomc
of them the bcft, it is faid, by many degrees,
in England.
Viat. I was firft. Sir, in love with you ; and
now (hall be fo enamoured of your country, by
this account you give me of it, as to wifli myfclf
a Derbyjhire man, or at leaft that I might live in
it : for you muft know I am a pretender to the
angle, and, doubtlefs, a Trout aSbrds the moft
plcafure to the angler of any fort of fiffi what-
ever j and the beft Trouts muft needs make
the bcft fport: but this brook, and fome others
I
Chap. I. the Complete Angle*; . .^
I have met with upon this way, arc too full of
wood for that recreation.
" Pifcat. This, Sir ! why this, and feveral others
like it, which you have paft, and fome that you
are like to pafs, have fcarce any name amongft
us : but we can (hew you as fine rivers, and as
clear from wood, or any other incumbrance to
hinder an angler, as any you ever faw j and for.
clear beautiful ftreams, Hantjbire itfelf, by Mr*
Jfaac Walton^ good ^cave, can ihew none fuch §
nor I think any country in Europe.
Viat. You go far. Sir, in the praifeofyour
country rivers, and I perceive have read Mr.
Walton*^ CompleU Angler^ by your naming of
'Hantjhire \ and I pray what is your opinion of
that book ?
Pifcat, My opinion of Mr. Walton^ book is
the fame with every man's that underftands any
thing of the art of angling, that it is an excel-
lent good one, and that the fore- mentioned gen-
tleman underftands as much of fifli, and fifhing^
as any man living : but I muft tell you further,.^
that I have the happirief? to know his pcrfon,
and to be intimately acquainted with him, an4
in him to know the worthieft man, and to enjoy
the bcft, and the trueft friend any man ever
had : nay, I fhall yet acquaint you further, that
he gives me leave to caH him father, and I hope
is not yet alhatned to own me for his adopted
ion *c
Viat.
• It was a conftant pra£lice with thofe who had made dif-
coverics in chemiilry and judicial aftrology, to adopt far
vourite pcrfons for their fans, to whom they imparted their
fecrets* AJhmoU^ in his Diary, p. 25. fays> " Mr. Back^
** bQufe^
€ ' The Complete Angler. I^art It.
Fiat. In earneft. Sir, I am raviflied to meet
with a friend of Mr. Ifaac fFaltan\ and one
that does him fo much right in fo good and true
a charader ; for I muft boaft to you, that I have
the good fortune to know him toOj and came ac-
quainted with him much after the fame tiiannerl
do with you ; that he was my mafter who firft
caught me to love angling, and then to become
an angler •, and to be plain with you, I am the
very man deciphered in his book under the name
of Venator ; for I was wholly addided to the
chace, till he taught me as good, a more quiet^
innocent, and lefs dangerous diverfion.
Pifcat. Sir, I think myfelf happy in your ac-
quaintance, and before we part ihall entreat leave
to embrace you ; you have faid enough to re-
commend you to my beft opinion : for my father
WaUon will be feen twice fn no man's company
he does not like, and likes none but fuch as he
believes to be very honeft men 5 which is one of
the beft arguments, or at leaft of the beft tefti-
monies I have, that I either am, or that he
thinks me, one of thofe, feeing I have not yet
found him weary of me.
Viat. You fpeak like a true friend, and in
doing fo render yourfclf worthy of his friend-
" houfe told me, I mod nov^ needs be his fon» becaa(^ he
'* had commanicated fo mtny fecrets to me." And, a licde
after, p. if. *' My father B^ukboufi^ lying fick in FUtt*
Jireet^ told me, in lyllables, the trae matter of the philo-
*' fopher's flone, which he bequeathed to me as a leeacy.''
And, in imitation of this pradice, Ben ^•hnfmi had fede-
ral adopted fons, to the number of twelve or fourteen ;
among whom were, Carfunrightl Ranidph^ zxA AUxandir
Brom* ; and it (hoald feem by the iext» that Waltttt ioU
lowed it, by adopting Cotton Jor his fon.
6 ^ ihip.
€haj>. I. Tie Completi AngleRi 7
ibip. May I be fo bold as to a(k your,
name ? >
Pi/cat. Yes furdy. Sir, and if you pleafc, a
much nicer qucftion, my name is and I intend
to day long enough in your company^ if I find
you do not diflike mine, to afk your's too. I n the
mean time, brcaufe we are now almoft dxJJhbarn^
I ihall freely and bluntly tell you, that I am a
brother of the angle too, and, peradventure, can
give you fome inftrudions how to angle for a
Trout in a clear river, tliat my hihtrff^allon him-
felf will not difapprove, though he did either
purpofcly omit, or did not remember them, when
you and he fat difcourdng under the fycamore-
tree *. And being you have already told me
whither your journey is intended, and that I am
better acquainted with the country than you are,
I will heartily and earneftly entreat, you will not
think of ftaying at this town ^ but go on with me
fix miles further, to my houfe, where you (hall,
be extreamly welcome ; it is dire&ly in your way;
we have day enough to perform our journey, and
a^ you like your entertainment, you may thercL
repofe yourfdf a day or two, or as many more as
your occafions will permit, to recompenfc the
trouble of fo much a longer journey,
, Fiat. Sir, you furprife me with fo friendly an
invitation upon fo fhort acquaintance : but how ^
advantageous fgever it would be to me, and that
thy hafte^ perhaps, is not fo great, but it might
difpcnfe with fuch a divertifement as I promife
myfelf in your company ; yet I cannot, in mo-
defty, accept your offer, and muft therefore beg
your pardon t I could otherwifcy I confcf% be
* See Part t Page 105.
B b gla4
f The CoMPLfiTS AwaLEK, Partis,
gtad to wait upon you, if upon no other ac^
count but CO talk of Mr. Ifaae fFaUen^ and to^
rcccire tliofe in(Jruftions you fay you arc abJc ta
give me for the deceiring a Trout ; in which art
1 will not deny, but thut I have an ambition ta
be one of the greateft deceirers ; though I can^
net forbear freely to tell you, that I think it hardf
to fay much more than has been read to oie
upon that fubjcdi.
Pifcai. Well, Sir, I grant that too ; but yoi>
mufft know that the vartety of rivers require dif-
ferent ways of angling : however, you ihall:
have the beft rules I am able to give, and I will
tethyoM nothing I have not made myfdf as certaia
of, as any rnan can be in thirty yeairs experiehce^
tor fo k>ng I have been a dabbler in that art ; and
that if yoi» pleafe to ftay a few days, you &all
in a very grtac meafure fee made good to you.
But of that hereafter ; and now. Sir, if I am not
miilaken, I have half overcome you ^ and that I
idav wholly comjuer that modefty of your*s, I
will take upon me to be fo familiar as to fay, yot9
mud accept my invitation ; which, that you may
the more eafily be perfuaded to do, I will tell you
that my houfe ftands upo& the mai^n of one of
the fined rivers for Trouts and Grayling in Eng*
hnd^ that I have lately built a little fi(hing-houre
upon it, dedicated to anglers, over the door of
, which you will fee the two fifft letters of my fa-
m J L ^^^^ ff^aUoH^s name and mine twifted
T^uZfi! '» ^yp'^^'' * i ^^^^^ y^« ^^" ^^e ^" ^he
* fame bed he has fometimes been con-
tented with, and have fuch country emertain-
nienl? as^ my ffiends fometimes accept ; and be as
welcome too as the beft friend of them alL
6 FiaL
thzp.L The CoMrLBTJK Akglbh. - 9
Fiat. No doubr. Sir, but n)y mafter Walt$H
found good reafoo to b^ fatisficd with his enter-
tainment in your houfe ; for ^ you who are fo
friendly to a mere ftranger, ^ho deferves fo little^
mixft needs be exceeding kind and free to him
who deferves fo vcmch^
Pifcat. Believe me, no ; and fuch as are inti*
mately acquainted with that gentleman, knov^
hkn to be k roan, f/hp wiU not eodure to be tr^^t-
ed like a ftranger. So that his acceptation of my
poor enbertainmeots, has ever been a pure effe^
6f iib owA humUity and good-nature^ m^ nothing
cUib. But, Sir, we are now going down the SpUih*
bill into the town ; and therefore let me import
tune you fuddenly to reiblv.et and moft earneftly
jDot to deny me.
Viat, In truth. Sir, I am fo overcome by yo\it
bounty, that I ^i^ I cannot, but muft render n[iy-
ielf wholly to be dilpofed by you.
Pifcat. Why that's heartily and kindly fpoken,
and 1 as heartily thank you % and being you have
abandoned yourfelf to my condu^:, we wiU only
call and drink a glafs on horfeback at the Tal^t^
and away.
Fiat. 1 attend you •, but what .pretty river is
this, that runs under this (tone bridge ? has it
a name ?
Pi/cat. Yes, *tis called Henmore^ and has in it
both Trout and Grayling ^ but you will meet
with one or two better anon. And fo foon as we
are patl through the town, I will endeavour, by
fuch difeourfe as beft likes you, to pals away the
time till you come to your ill quarters.
Fiat. We can talk of nothing with which I (hall
be more delighted thftn of rivers and angling.
B b 2 Pifcat
lo 7'i&^ Complete Akgl^r. Fart II
Pifcat. Let thofc be the fubgefts then ; but we
are now come to the Taliof-^ What will you
drink. Sir, ak ^r wine ?
Fiaf. Nay, I am for tbccountiy liquor, Derhy-
Jhire ale, if you pleafe ; for a man fbould not,
mechinks, come from London to drtnk wine in
the P^ak. "
Pifcat. You are in the right ; and yet let me teU
you, you may drink worfc French wine in many
taverns in London^ than they have fometimes at
this houfe. What hoe \ bring us a flaggon of your
beft ale -, and now, Sir» my fervice to you, a good
health to the honeft gentleman you know of,
and you are welcome into the Peak,
Viat^ I thank you, Sir, and prefent you my
fervice again, and to all the honeft brothers of
the angle.
Pifcat. V\\ pledge you, Sir : fo, tbere^s for your
ale, and farewel. Come, Sir, let us be going, for
the fun grows low, and I would have you look
about you as you ride ; for you will fee an odd
country, and nght$ that will feem ftrange to
you.
* ■ «
CHAP. If.
PlSCATOR,
SO, Sir, now we have got to the top of the
bill out of town^ look about you, and telt
mc how you like the country. .
. 'Viat, Blcfs me, what mountains are here \
arc \vc not in Wales ?
Pifcat.
Chap.ll. TheCoUPL^TE ANCLEit. ii
Ti/caL No, but in almoft^as mountainous a
country; jand yet thefe hills, chougli high, bleak,
and craggy, breed and feed good beef and mut-
ton, above ground, and afford good (lore of
lead ivitbin.
Fsai. They had need of all thofe commodities
CO make amends for iht ill landfkip: but I
Jiope our way does not lie over any of ^tlsefe, for
i dread a puecipice.
Pi/cat. Believe me, but it does, and down o^
cfpecially, that will appear a little terrible to a
ftranger: though the way is paffabie . enough,
and lb paflable, that we who are natives of thefe
mountains, and acquainted with tliem, dafdaia
€0 alight.
ViaS. I hope though, that a foreigner is pri-
vileged, to ufe his own difcretion, and that I
may have the liberty to entruft my neck to the
fidelity of my own feet, rather than to thofe of my
horfe, for I have no more at home.
Pi/cat. 'Twerc hard elfe. But in tl*e oieao
time, I think 'twere beft, while this way is pretty
even, to mend our pace, that we may be pafl:
that hill J fpeak of; to the end your apprehen-
fioQ may not be doubled, for want of light to
difcern thetafinefs of the defcenc.
Vial. I am willing to put forward as faft as my
bead wiU give me leave, though I fear nothing
in your company. But what pretty river is thi|S
we are going into ?
Pifcaf. Why this. Sir, is called Bentlybrcok^
and is full of very good Trout andO ray ling; buc
fo encumbered with wood in many places, as is
xroublefomc to an angler.
B b 3 ^ Viat.
It fbe CouvLtrt Ant'LtVi. Psrtll.
Viat. Here trt the prettieft rhrers, and the
moft of chem in this country that ever I ikw*;
do you know how many you have in the coun-
try?
Pifcal, Iknow them all, and they were not hard
to reckon, were it worth the trouUe, but the
tnoft confiderable of them I will prefentiy nacne
you. And to begin where we now are, for you
muft know we are now upon the very &irts of
Derbyjhirt ; we have firft the river D9ve^ that we
(hall cotne to by and by, which divides the two
counties of Derby^ and Steffm'd for many miles
together ; and is fo called from the fwiftnefs of m
current, and that fwiftnefs occafioned by the de-
clivity of its courfe, and by being fo (trained in
that courfe betwixt the rocks ; by which, and
thofe very high ones, tt is hereabout, for four or
five miles, confined in a very narrow flream.
A river that from a contemptible fountain, whkh
I can cover with my hac, by the ctofltftenee «(f
other rivers, rivulets, brooks, and rills, isiwell-
ed, before it falls into 9>m/^ a littk beldw j^
fington^ where it lofes the name, to fueh a bread^
and depth, as to be in moft places navigable,
were not the paflages frequently interrupted wMi
fords and wears, and has as fertile banks as any
river in England^ none exc€fpted. And thia rilrer,
from its head, for a mile or two, is a bhidc wmer,
as all the reft of the Derhyfiire rivers of note ^i>
ginally are, for they all fpring from the mofles;
but is in a few miles travel, fo clarified by the
addition of feveral clear and very great fprings,
bigger than itfelf, which gofli out of the Hnx^*
ftone rocks, that before it %omes to my hotife^
which is but fix or fcvcn miles from its fource,
you
CliUp- n. The C0MP2.ETE Anclir. .1^
yop iwiU find it one of the purefib cryftalioe
Areams you have feen.
^itf/. Docs Treni fpring in thefc parts ?
PjScQt. Yi»» ia thele parts i not in this coant)!:^
but.iocnewHere towards chie upper end of Stafford
^ircy I think iiot far from a place qdled Tremb^m^
iffid theoci: runs down joot far {vom ^afford tp
JFol/fyrhidgif and waAiog th^ fkirxs and purliiei)s
X)f the forelt of N^s^^/prnd^ f^ns down to Burton \xx
.the faoie county^ th^ce^;qoi9ac3 \ntQ this whense
.we no^ are, and xjunnkig by SwarkfioM and ^i^ij^-
mngUn^ receives D&rwent 9XjVildon, and fo to
NeUingbam^ lYi^iya^ tp Newark^ and hy dfinj^p-
rwgk to l^ngjtou upon MhU^ where it takes th^
name of Humber^ and theoce falls into the fea;
<|>ut that the map will beft inform you.
Vi4t* KnQw you wb^nce this xiver Trpnt da-
tives its name ?
Pifiatn No, indeed % and y^t I liave lieard \t
. ^ten difpourVd upon^ wbc^n fon>e have given i|ts
idenomip^tioQ fro^ the fore-named Trentbama
f hough that ifems rather a dienvative £rom it ;
4>tbers bavie faid k is fo called from thirty rivqr«
that fall inio it, aiid th^re lofe their natpes^ whicij^
caonoc be neither, becaufe k parries tb^t ^anpe
. Irom its .v^ ibunta^, b^oce any Qt^e;* rivers
/all into icr, others derive it from thirty £evera}
Ibrts of fi(h that breed there % and that is xhe mod:
iikely derivation : but be it how it will, it is doubt*
jefe one of the fineft rivers in the world, and
<he Qioft abounding with excellent Salmon, and
aU forts of delicate fi(h.
yiat. Pardon me, Sir, for tempting you into
is digreffion, and then proceed f.o 3ipjL»r other
B b 4 fivers^
N
14 The Complete Angler. ParrlL
rivers, for I am mightily delighted with diis
difcourfe.
Pi/cat. It was no interruption, but a very fea-
fonable^ueftion •, for Treni is not only one of our
Derbyjhirc rivers, but the chief of them, and
into wliich all the reft pay the tribute ci their
names •, which 1 had, perhaps, forgot to infift up-
on, being got to the other end of the county, had
you not awoke my memory. But 1 will now
proceed j and the next river of note, for I will
take them as they lie eaftward from us, is the
river fVye -, I fay of note, for we have two Icfler
betwixt us and it, namely, LalbkinsLnd Bradford-,
of which Latbkin is, by many degrees, the puitft
and moft tranfparent (Iream that I ever yet faw,
either at home or abroad ; and breeds, 'tis faid, the
reddeft, and the beft Trouts in England \ but
neither of thefe are to be reputed rivers, being no
better than great fprings. The river fVye then
has its fource near unto Buxton^ a town fome ten
miles from hence, famous for a warm bath, and
which you are to ride through in your way to
Mancheft& ; a black water too at the fountain,
but by the fame reafon with Dove^ becomes very
foon a moft delicate clear river, and brefcds ad-
mirable Trout and Grayling, reputed by thofe,
who, by living upon its banks are partial to it,
the beftof any ; and thisfunnirigdown by AJhfordr
BaktwelU and Hadden, at a town a little lower,
called Rowejleyy falls into Derwenf^znd there lofes
its name *. The next in Order is Derwenl, a blai:k
water
* By this it appears, tbat there are two rivers in England
that bear the name of Wyt \ the former ifje^ otcafioRall/
• ' * men-
Chap.II. ^ie Complete Angler. 15
water too, and that not only from its fountain,
but quite through its progrefs, not having thefc
cry{^al fprings to waih and cleanfe it which
the two fore- mentioned have j but abounds with
Trout and Grayling, fuch as they are, towards
its fource, and with Salmon below •, and this ,
river, from the upper and utmoft part of this
county, where it fprings, taking its courfe by
Cbatfwortb^ Darley^ Mathck^ Derby^ Burrow- AJby
and Awberfon^ falls into Trent at a place called
fFiUanj and there lofcs its name. The eaft fide
of this county of Derly is bounded by little in-
confiderable rivers, as Azvber^ Eroways^ and the
like, fcarce worth naming, but trouty too ; and
further >ve arc not to enquire. - But, Sir, I have
carried you, as a man may. lay, by water, till we
are now come to the defcent of the formidable
hiU I told you of, at the foot of which runs the
river Dw^, which I cannot but love above all
the reft, and therefore prepare yourfclf to be a
little frighted.
Viat. Sir, I fee you would fortify me, that I
ihould not ihame myfclf s but 1 dare follow
mentioned, p. 143, 149, 153, and elfewhere in this work,
has, as well as tlie ^e^ern^ its head in the Plinilimmon hills,
bn the borders of Montgomery and Cardiganjhires ; from
whence, as its Latin name, Vaga^ imports, wandering
through part of Srecknockjhire^ it, near the Hay^ enters A-
reforJfifirey and at Mordtford^ within four miles of Hereford^
receives the Lug ; from thence, paffingon loRo/sy it enters
Monmouthjhire^ and falls into the Severn below Chepftonu,
' It abouiids with thait fmall fpecies of £(h called Lad-
Ijpring; for which fee page 153 ; and alfo with Grayling.
And here it may bt necefTary to remark, that the names
of A*von^ Oufe^ Stourey and fome others, are common' to
many rivers in England^ as that of Dulas i» to number^ in
W^u See notes on the Polyclbtom, fong the iixth.
" * ^ where
-i6 ^be CoMPiETE AvGLKR. Fart IL
where you pkafe to lead me, and I fee ha danger
yec I for the defccntt tnethinJcs, is thus £fir green,
even, and cafy.
Pifcat. You will like it worfe prefemly, when
' you come CO the brow of the hiii ; and now we
are there, what think you ?
Viai. What do I think ? Why I think it the
ilrangeft place that ever, fore, men and horfes
went down ; and that, if therie be any fafety at
all, the fafcfl: way is to alight.
Pifeai. 1 think fo too for you, who are mounts
ed upon a bead not acquainied with theie flip*-
fery ilones ; and though I frequently ride xlown,
will alight too to bear you company, and ur
lead you the way ; and, ii you pleafe, my man
ihall lead your horiie.
Viat. Marry, Sir, and thank you too ; for I
am afraid I fliail have enxMigh to do to look tx%
inyfeUt and with my horic in my hand fluxuld
be in a double fear, both of iyeaking my neck,
and my horfc's falling on me ; for it is as ite^
as a penthoufe.
pifcai. To look down from hence it appears
ib, 1 confefs i but the path winds and turns, aiid
^ill not be found fo troublefonne.
Viat. Would I were well down . though !
Hoift thee ! there's one fair 'fcape! thefe ftones
are fo flippery I cannot (land ! yet again I I think
I were beftlay my heels in-my neck, and tumble
down.
Pifcat. If you thiak your heels w'dl defend
ydur neck, that is the way to be foon at the bot-
tom ; but give me your hand at this bro^d ftone^
and then the worft is paft,
Viat.
Chap. II. 7%r Co^PLrETE Anglxh. <%y
Vidi. I thank you. Sir, I am now paft it, I can
myfelf. What's here, the fign of a bridge ?
o you ufc to travel with wheelbarrows in this
country ?
Piftai. Not that I ciFcr faw. Sir. Why do you
afk that queftion ?
Vmt. Becaufe this bridge certainly was made
for nothing eUe % why a moufe can hardly go
over it : 'tis not two fingers broad.
Pifcat. You are pkaiant, and 1 am glad tp
fee you fo : but I have rid over the bridge many
« dark night.
Viai. Why acccordin^ ix> the French proverb)^
and 'tis a good one among a great many of
worfe fenfe and found that language abounds
HI, Ct que Dieugarde^ eft hien garde. They whom
-God takes care ^ are in laie protedion : but,
iet mt tell you, I -would vnot ride over it for a
ihoufand pounds, nor fall off h for two; and
yet I thuiK I dare venture on foot, though if you
were not by to laugh at me, I Siould do it on
•tU four.
Pifcatp Well Sir, your tnrrth becomes you,
and 1 am glad to fee you fafe over \ and now you
are welcome into St^iffordjbvre.
Viut. How, Siaffcrdftnre ! What do I thei«
trow ! there is not a word of Slaffior^flnre in all
tny diredion.
Pifiat. You fee you arc betrayed into it ; but
It ihall be in order to fomething that will make
iamtnds, and *tis but an ill mile or two out of
your way.
Vtaf. I believe all things. Sir, and doubt no*
thing. Is this your beloved river Deve ? 'Tis
dear and fwift indeed, but a very little one.
Pifeat.
if 91&^ Complete Akgler. PartlJ.
Pifcat, You fee it here at the worft ; we ftiall
come to it anon again after two miles ridings
and fo near as to lie upon the very banks.
Viai. Would we were there once ; but I hope
we have no more of thefe Alps to pafs over.
Pifcat. No, no, Sir, only this afcent. before
you, which you fee is not very uneafy, and then
you will no more quarrel with your way.-
Viat. Well, iPever I come to Ltf»i^», of which
many a man there, if he were in my place, would
make a queftion, I will fit down and write my
travels, and, like Tom Coriate^ print them at my
own charge ♦. Pray what do you call this hill wc
came down ?
Pifcat.
•• 7i« Coriatt lived in the rcign of king James the ^ift^
and, as fVeodaXh htm, was the wuhetftntu of all the nvits of
ihai agi ; and indeed, the alln£ons to him, and to theliii-
•goiar oddnefs of his charaAer, are numberlefs. He travelled
almoft over Ewrppt on foot, and in that tour walked 900
miles with one pair of ihoes, which he got mended at Z«-
Ttch, Afterwards he viOted Turkijf^ Pn^a, and the Great
MoguPi dominions, travelling in fo frugal a manner, thai,
as b^ tells his mother, in a letter to her in his tep months
travels, httvitcn JJepppo and the MoguPs court, he fpent bat
three poumts ftcrlhg^ living rejifoiiably well for about hvov-
pence fierling a day. . He was a redoubted champion for
'che Cbriftian religiof), again^ the Mahometans wc^d Pagans ;
in the defence whereof he fometimes riiqued hi^ life. In
^furhey^ wheH aprieft, as the cutlom is, was proclaiming
from a mofque-towcr that Mahomet was a true prophet,
Vir«r, in t1ie fury of his Real, and in the face of the whole
city, told the prieft he iyed^' and that his prophet *was an im»
j^ftor: and, at a city calJc/d jU«//^«, \ii\\i^EaJt Indies^ he,
in publick, made a fetfpeech to aMahometan, who had called
him glaur^ or infidel^ y/hizW he began thus : •* Btet^ i pray
^* ? thee, feU me,, -thoA Mahometan , . thft tkou infadtUfs call me
*• giaur ? That I do quoth he: Thetty \vxit\iii in 'very J^
** her jfadtafs I retort that Jhameful nxjord in thy throaty and
till thee plainly y that 1 dm a mulTulman^ and thou art
*«•». xwti^ yMMfiM^, i/>«»i i (4fn €* uiujiuiuictu^ una ifjou
a
Chap« U. 97^^ CoMPLBTE Angler. 19
Pifcat. Wc call it Hanfon-^oot.
Viat. Why, farewcl Hanfon-Toot^ 1*11 no more
on cbee \ Y\\ go twenty miles about Brft : Puh I
I fweaty that my fhirt (licks to my back.
Pifcat. Come, Sir, now we are up the hill,
and now how do you ?
Viat. Why very well, I humbly thank you. Sir,
and warm enough, I aflure you. What have we.
here, a church ? As Tm an honed man, a very
pretty church ! Have you churches in this
country. Sir ?
Pifcat. You fee we have : but had you ften
none, why (hould you make that doubt. Sir ?
Viat. Why, if you will not be angry, Pll tell
you I thought myfelf a ftage or two beyond
Chriftendam.
Pifcat. Come, come, we'll reconcile vou to
our country before we part with you, it fliew-
ing you good fport with angling will do it.
Viat. My refpeft to you, and that together
may do much. Sir •, otherwife, to be plain with
you, I do not find myfelf much inclined that way^
^ a eiatir.'' He concludes thus : «< Go to then^ thufiU/c
** ^ buiiifert fina by thy injurious imfutatiou laid on me, in thai
^' thou catledft me giaur, thou haft provoked mo to /peak thuu
•* //rtff thee^ let this mine answer he a woarningfor thee not
*^ to-fcandalixi me in the like manner any more \for the ChriA
** lian religion^ nuhich I pro/e/st is Jo dear and tender unt0
** met that neither thou, nor any other Mahometan « fi^all^
** fcot'free^ can me giaur, hut that I fl?ati quit you <with an.
•' anpwer much to the <wonder ofthofe Mahometans." Dixu
He died of the flux, occaiioned by -drinking fack ^ttSurat^
in 1617 ; having publifhed his travels in a qaarco volame,
which he called his Crudities ; and to this circumilance the
paiTage in the text is a manifeil allufion. SteJthen, Oxon,
Vol.1. Col. 422. Purcha/e*s Pilgrim, Parti. Book ^.
Chap. 17. Coriaiii letter from the court of the Great MoguK
^artOf i6i6.
f Pifcat.
20 Tie CoMPLttt AucttRi PartIL
Pi/cat. Well, Sir, your raillcff upon our
mountains has brought us almoil home; and
look you where the lame river of Dove has a^n
met us CO bid you welcome, and to invite yoii
to a difli of Trouci^ to-morrow.
FiaL Is this the fame we faw at the fyot oi
Penmen-Maure /^ It is a much finer river here.
PifcaS. It will appear yet much finer to-mor-
row. But look you. Sir, here appears the houfe^
that is now like to be your inn, for want of a
better.
ViaL It appears on a fudden, but not be&re
'twas looked for ; it ftands prettily, and here's
wood about it coo, but fo young, as^ appears to
be of your own planting.
Pi/cat, It is fo ; will it pleafe you to attgbt.
Sir ) and now permit me, after alt your pains add
dangers to take you in my arms^ and to aifure
you, that you are k^itejy wekome.
y^. I thank you, SSr, and am glad with all
my heart I am here ; for, ia downright tru^y
I am exceeding weary.
Pi/caf. You will flcep fo mixrh the better )
yi>u ftiril presently hw^ a light fupper, and to
bed: Come, Sirs, lay ijie cloih, and bring what
you have preiently, and let the geatkmanVoed be
made ready in the mean time, in my father fFal*
hfi?ii chamber ; and now, Sir, here b my fcrvice
to you, and once more welcome.
Plat. Ay marry. Sir, ;bi5 glafs c^ ^ood fack
has refrefhed me, and Til make as bold with your
mei»t, for the trot has got me a good ftomacb.
PiJlaL Come, Sir, fall to then, you fee my
little fupper i$ alwgys ready when 1 come home;
and ril make no ftranger of you,
' FiaT.
>7«/. Thftt your meal is fo fybn read/ is a Ggn
your fefvaiits know your certain bours^ Sir; -I
confefs I did not expe^ it fo foon -^ but now 'ti»
h er^t yois ftiaU fee I will make my ielf no ftranger.
Pi/cat. Much good do your heart, and I thank
you for that frioidly wond : and now. Sir, my j
lervice to you in a cup of Abre-LanJ^^ ale: for
you are now in the Mon-Landsj but within a fpit
and aftrideof the Peak ; fill my friend his glafe.
ytal^. Believ^e me yoa have good ale in the?
Mere-Lands^ far better than that at 4^^ar0.
Pifcat. That it may (bon be : for AJhhrn has,
which is a kind of a riddle^ always in it thebeft
malt, and the word ale in England. Come, take
away, and bring us fome pipes, and a bottle of
ale, and go to your own fupper^. Are you for
this diet. Sir?
f^iat. Yes, Sir, I am for one pipe of tobacco 5
and I perceive your*s is very good by the fmell.
Pifcat. The beft I can get in London^ I isiflure
you *. But, Sirj now you have thus far com-
plied
*
* It ftould feediy by #ttat Jf^altwhyry Chap. X. that he
Wa^ a fmdaker : and the reader fees, by the pafTage in the
nkt^ that Ptfcaicy^ by whom we are to anderftand Cottm
hittfelf, \t fo «ari<Hi9 as to have his tobacco from Lending
1^ oar pifcalory diftiple may do as be plealet.
Sfttokbgy or» as the phrafe was« taking tobacco, wav
in queen Eli%ahtth^h and her fuce^ilbr's time, eileemed
the greal<»ft of alt foppery, Ben John/on^ who mortally hated
it, ha';ltfK9b^tCfi« ffl^cftfofs againft fmoakingand fmoak^ts;
ill which are iKKhin^, compared to tho(e contained in that
tflegtht i^^k ^^^tvCi^Jamei the firft, intitkd, A CounUr"
^ft h t^c<o. Nor Wd6 the ordinary converfation of this
f&ptent monarch left ftaaght with cpgent reafons and witty
iovedives againft the ufe of that weed, as will appear from
^c following faying, of bis, extra^d from A C9lk^ion^o/
miiy
21 The Cdmplztz AfidLztL. PartlL
plied with my dcfigns, as to take a troublefome
journey into an ill country, only to fatisfy me »
how long may I hope to enjoy you ?
Fiat. Why truly. Sir, as long as I Conveniently
can ; and longer, I think, you would not have me.
PifcaL Not to your inconvenience by any
means. Sir; but I fee you are weary^ and therefore
I will prefently wait on you to your chamber,
where take counfel oi your pillow, and to-morr
row refolve me. Here, take the lights, and pray
follow them. Sir. Here you are luce to lie, and
now I have (hewed you your lodging, I be-
feeth you, command any thing you want, and
fo I wi(b you good reft.
yiaL Good night. Sir.
witty apophthegms^ delivered hy him and athtn^ at /tveral
timiJf and OH fundry tccajionst publifhed in 12010, 1671.
** That tobacco nvas the li'vely image and pattern of hell;
*' for that it had, by allufion, in it all the parts and vices of
** the world whereby hell may be gained ; to wit : Firft, li
•• tf^asafmoak ; ft) are the vanities of this world. Secondly,
** // delight eth them ivho take it ; Jo do the pleafares of the
** world delight the men of the world. Thirdly, // moAeth
** men drunken^ and light in the hiad\ fo do the vanities of
*' the world, men are. dmnken therewith. Foarthly, He
*' that taketh tobacco faith he cannot leave it, it doth be^witch
** him : even fo the pleafares of the world make men loath
'^ to leave them, they are for the moft part fo inchaftted
** with them : and further, befides alt this, // is like hell
•• in the itery fulftance of. ity f^r it is d ftinking loathfome
** thing ; and fo is hell. And farther, his majeily profef-
** fed that, were he to invite the devil to dinner^ he ihould
** have three diihes \ \, A pig ; 2. A pole of ling and muf
•• tard\ and jt A pipe of tobacco for digeitare." -
How fententions and lo|;ical dpes this reafoniog appear ^
iray, and how wittily is his majedy's ridicalc ajnrlied for
the prefervation of the fouls, as well zk bodies, of-his good
iiibjeas!
CHAP.
X
Chap. III. - Th CoMP|.ET£ Anglsh. %^
"" CHAP. III.
PiSCATOR.
GOOD morrow, Sir ; what f up and drcft
{o early ?
Fiat. Yes, Sir, I have been dreft this
half hour ; for I rcfted fo well, and. have fo
great a mind either to take, pr to fee a Trout
taken in your £lne river, that I could no longer
lie a bed.
Pifcat. I am glad to fee you fo brilk this morn-
ing, and fo eager of fport ; though I mud tell
you, this day proves fo calm, and the fun rifes
fo bright, as promifes no great fuccefs to the
angler : but, however, we'll try, and, one way
or other, we (hall fure do fomething. What
will you have to your breakiaft, or what will
you drink this morning ?
Viat. For breakfaft, I never eat any, and for
drink am very indifferent ; but if you pleafe to
call for a glafs of ale, I'm for you ; and let it
be quickly, if you pleafe, for I long to fee thq
little filhing-houfe you fpoke of, and to be at my
leifon. _ .
Pifiai. Well, Sir, you fee the ale is come
without calling; for though I do not know your's,
my people know my diet, which is always one
glafs fo foon as I am dreft, and no more till
dinner; and fo my fervants have ferved you.
Viat. My thanks, and now, if you pleafe, let
us look out this fine morning.
Pifcat-. With all my heart ; boy ! take the key
of my fifiiing^houie, and carry down thofe two
C c angle-
24 y/^e Complete Amc-ler. Partly
angle-rods in the hall-window thither, with mf
fifli'pannier, pouch, and landing-net ^ and ftay
you there till we come. Come, Sir^ we'll walk
after ^ where, by the way, I expeft you Ihould
raife all the exceptions againft our country you
can.
Fiai. Nay, Sir, do not think me fo ill-natured^
nor fa uncivil *, I only made a little bold with it
laft night to divert you, and was only in je(t.
Pifcat. You were then in as good earneft as I
am now with you : but had you been really angry
at it, i could not Uame you : for, to fay the
truth, it is not very taking at firft light. But
look you. Sir, now you are abroad, does not the
fun (hine as bright here as in Effhcy Middlefex^ or
Kent^ or any of yoor fouthern counties f
Viat. 'Tis a delicate morning, indeed ; and Y
now think this a marvellous pretty place,
Pifcat. Whether you think fo or no, you can-
not oblige me more than to lay fo ; and thofe of
my friends who know my humour, and are ib
kind as to comply with it, ufually (latter me
that way. But look you. Sir, now you are at
the brink of the hill, how do you like my river,
the vale it winds through like a fnake, and the
Situation of my little fiming-houfe ?
Viat. Truft me, *cis all very fine, and tht houfe
feems at this diftance a neat building.
Pifcat. Good enough for that purpol^ ; and
here is a bowling-green too, clofc by it 5 fo though
I am myfclf no very good bowler, I am not to-
tally devoted to my own pleafure, but that I
havealfo fomc regard to other men's. And now^
Sir, you are to come to the door, pray walk in, and
there we will fit, and talk as long a^ you pleafe.
6 Via.
« \
t >
t
Chap« lit. ^he CouPLttn AuQitK^ %$
Fiat. Stay, what's here over the door ? Pisca^
toRiBu> SACRUM • Why then, .n„,i„^,u,
I perceive, 1 have foitie title m,tto,tlH.yt^tm».
hcfe; for. I am one of them, titud >« the.tid*-
chough one of the woril ; and t»s*> «"' fomtaH
here bdo>«r it is the cypher too f 7 ^^^W'
you ipoke of, and .^IS prettily i^/ ^^ fUafantmfi
contrived. Has my matter oftberi'very motm^
Wdttw ever been here to fee ^^^'> dmdmadowt
% for it fcems new built t ? glif'ffii;' swl
Jk9ff mr Mr, Cotlon'/yOt/W, nveti agmn ali've to do it.
^ifc0l. T^S, he fanr it cut in the ftonc bcfofc
kwafifet-up, but never in the pofture it now
itands : f^r the houfe was but building when hewat
hiQ: httdl M^ xiQt taikd ib high asahe arch of
the door, and 1 am afraid he will not fee it yet %
t Having been mforined that thcfifhing-houfe here men*
tioned iVas yet Aaifiding, 1 employed a very ingenioas gentle^
msLtifWeW known for the msiny txttWent views he has givca
^e publickof the Piak,- and parts adjacent, to make a (lraw«>
ing of that and aifo of Pike pool^ with the rock rifing in the
mtilfi thereof; both which are defcribed Chap. VI. this he
ac<fordiagly did with great accuracy ; and from his drawings^
X\^ plate in the oppofice page was engraved ; which it i%
imi^ned the reader wttl be pleafed with, as it exhibits the
very fcene where thi» dialogue is fuppofed to h^ve been
held, aii^#here, as we are ^$ired» Cottom and Walton ufed
to fifh.
On the outfideof the fi(hing-houfe are tlitfportralts, as
they >i^ enlkd, of CbarUs Cottony .Wq; his fervaat th^
boy, and Mr. I/aac Wakon, painxed . in frcfcd i but, be-
fides that, the habits befpeak them to have beendrAwn many
years after .their (Jeatbs : they are fo wretchedly executed,
that .it wodid, have 4ifgraced' this work to b«ve inferted
them*
C c a fpf
iS^ The Complete Angler. PartlL.
for he has lately writ me word, he doubts his
coming down this fummer ; which, I do aflure*-
you, was the word news he could poiEbly have
lent me.
Viat. Men mu(t fometimes mind their affairs .
to make more room for their pleasures ; and 'tis
odds he is as much diipleafed with the bufinefs-
that keeps him* from you, as you are that he*
comes not. But \ am the moft pleafed with
this little houfe, of any thing I ever faw : it ftands
in a kind of peninfula too, with a delicate dea;:
river about it. I dare hardly go in, kfl: I fliould
not like it ib weli within as without ; but, by your
leave, TU try. Why this is better and better^
fine lights, finely wainicoted, and all exceeding
neat, with a marble table, and all, in the middle !.
Pifcat, Enough, Sir, enough, I have laid opea.
to you the part where I can word defend my-
fclf; and now you attack me there. Come,
boy, fet two chairs, and whilft I am taking a,
pipe of tobacco,, wbicb is always my breakfaO:>
we will, if you pleaf<r, talk of fome other ful>
jeft.
Viat, None fittser then, Sir, for the time and
place, than thofe inftru&ions you promifed.
Pifcat. I begin to doubt, by fomething I dif-
cover in you, whether I am able to inftruft you
or no ; though, if you are really a ftranger to
our clear northern' rivers, I ftill think I can ;
and therefore, finer it is yet too early in the
morning at this time of the year, to-day being
but the feventh of MarcB^ to caft a fiy upon the
water, if you will dire6b me what kind of fiihing
for a Trout 1 ftiall read you a Icfturc on, I aia
wHling and ready to dbcy you.
; Viat,
Chap. IIL ^fe Complete Angler; lay
Viat. Why, Sir, if you will To far oblige tne,
ind that it may not be too troublefome to you, I
vrould entreat you would run chough the whole
body of it ; and I will not conceal from you, (hat
1 am fo far in love with you, your courtcfy, and
pretty Moreland feat, as to rcfolve to ftay with
you long enough by intervals -, for I will not op-
|)refs you, to hear all you can fay upon that fub-
jea.
Pi/caf. You cannot obHge me more than by
fuch a premife; and therefore, without more ce-
remony, I will begin to teH you, that my father
Walton having read to you before, it would look
like a prefumption in me, and peradventure would
do fo in any other man, to pretend to give lef-
^oos for angling after him, who, I do really be-
lieve, tinderftands as much of it, at leaft, as any
man xtiEnglan^*, did J not pre- acquaint you, that
I am not tempted to it by any vain opinion of
myfclf, that I am able to give you better di-
Teiftions ; but having from my childhood pur-
•fued the recreation of angling in very clear
. rivers, truly I think by much, fome of them at
^eaft the cTearcft in* this kingdom, and the man-
ner of aTigllng here with us, by rcafpn of that ex-
ceeding clearnefs, being fonrcthing different from
%e method commotily ufed in others, which by
^being not near fo bright, admit of ftronger tackle,
•and allow * a nearer approach to the ftream ; I
^may peradventufe- give you fom^ inftruftions,
*fhat may be of ufc even in your own rivers, and
4halPbring you ^cqu^nted with. more flies, anfl
ftiew you how to^make them, and with <vhjrt
dubbing too, than he has taken notice of in his
<;oMPjLETE Angler.
a8 The Complete Angler. Pmll,
yUi. I bcfecchyou. Sir, do; and if you will
lend tne your fteel, 1 will light a pipe the while ;
for chat is commonly my breakfaft hi a morning
too.
f-*t«
CHAP. IV.
P I S C A T O EL.
WH Y then. Sir, to begin methodically^
as a mafter in any art (hould do ; and
I will not deny, but that 1 think myfelf
, ^ mafter in this, I fhall divide angling for Trout
^r Grayling into thefe three ways ; at the top ;
at the bottom i and in the middle. Which threte
ways, though they are all of them, as I ihall
Jiereafter endeavour to make it appear, in fome
fort common to both thofe kinds of fib, yet are
they not fo generally and abfolutely ib» but that
they will hecciTarily require a diftindioo, which*
in due place, I will alfo give you.
That which we call angling at the top, is
with a fl^*, at the bottom with a ground-bait^
In the middle with a minnow or ground-bait.
Angling at the top is of two forts ; with a
.quick fly* or with an artificial fly.
That we call angling at the bottom, is alfo of
two forts I by hand, or with a cork or float.
That we call angling in the middle, i$ alfo of
two forts ; with a minnow for iai Trout, or with
a ground-bait for a Grayling.
*' c
Of
Chap. V. al^^ Complete Antocer. 39
Of all which feveral forts of angling, I will^
if you can have the patience p hear ine» give
you the bed account J can.
Fi^. The trouble will be your's, and mine
the pleafure and the obligatioa : I bcfeech you
therefore to proceed.
Pif€at. Why then, Hrft of fly-Hfhing.
CHAP. V.
Of Fl y-Fi s H I N a,
Pi SC A T o R.
FL Y-fithing, or. fiflilng at the top, is, a«
I faid before, of two two forts ; with a
natural and living Hy, or with an artfici^
«nd made fly.
Firft then, of the natural fly ; of which wc
generally ufe fouc two fores, and thofe but in
the two months of May 2ind June only ; namely^
the green drake, and the ftooe fly; though t
have made ufe of a third that way, called the
camlet- £y, with very good faccefs, forGi'ay.ling ;
but never faw it aogled with by any other after
this manner, my mafter only excepted, who
died many years ago, and was one of the befl:
anglers that ever I knew.
Thefe are to be angled with with a (bort Knc,
not much more thaiU half the length of your
rod, if the air be liill -, or with a longer vtry
near, or all out as long as your rod, if you
faave any wind to carry it from you. And this
C c 4 !Vay
30 T'i^^ Complete Akgl£r« PartIL
W|iy of fiihing we call dapping^ dabbing or dib-
bling, whertin.you are always co have your line
flying before you, up or down the river, as the
wind ferves, and to angle as near as you can to
the bank of the fame fide whereon you (land ;
though where you fee a fifli rife near you, you
may guide your quick fly over him, whether
in the middle, or on the contrary fide ; and if
you are pretty well out of fight, either by kneeK
ing, or the interpofitioo of a bank or bulh,
you may ahnoft be fure to raife, and take him
too, if it b; prefeotly dpne ; thf; fi(b will other*
wife peradventure be removed to (bme other
place, if it be in the Hill deeps, where he is al^
ways in motion, and roving up and down to
)ook for prey ; though in a ftream, you tpay al-
ways almoft, efpecially if there be a good ftone
near, find him in the fame place. Your lipe
ought in this cafe to be three good hairs next
the hook, both by reaibn you are in this kind of
angling to €xpc6t the biggeft fifli, and alfo
that wanting length to give him line after he
5s' (truck, you mull be forced to tug for it -, to
which I will alfo add, that not an inch of your
line being to be fuSered to touch the water in
dibbing, it may be allowed to be the ftronger.
I (hould now give you a defcription of thofe
fiies, their (hape ana colour, and then give you
an account of their breeding, and withal ihcw
you how to keep and ufe them ; but (hall defer
that to their proper place and feafon.
Fiat. In earncft. Sir, you difcourfe very ra-
tionally of this affair, and I am glad to find my-
felf miftaken in you ; for, in plain truth, I did
nQt expeft fo much from you.
Pi/cat.
Chap. V. The Complete Angler. jj
Pi/cat, Nay, Sir, I can tell you a great deal
more than this, and will conceal nothing from
you. But I mud now come to the fecon(i way
of angling at the top, which is with an artifi-
cial fly, wnich alfo I will (hew you how to make
before I have done ; but- firft (hall acquaint you,
that with this you are to angle with a line long-
er by a yard and a half, or fometimes two yards,
than your rod ; and with both this and the
other in a ftill day, in the ftreams, in a breeze
that curls the water in the ftill deeps, where (ex*
ccpting in May and June^ that the beft Trouts
will lie in (liallow ftreams to watch for prey,
and even then too) you are like to hit the beft
fi(h.
For the length of your rod, you are always
to be governed by the breadth of the river you
(hall chufe to angle at ; and for a Trout-river,
one of five or fix yards long is commonly enough ;
and longer, though never fo neatly and artifici-
ally made, it ought not to be, if you intend
to fifh at eafej and if otherwife, where lies the
fport?
Of thcfe, the beft that ever I faw are made
in Torkjhire^ which are all of one piece ; that
is to fay, of fevcral, fix, eight, ten, or twelve
pieces, fo neatly pieced, and tied together with
fine thread below and fiik above, as to make it
taper like a fwitch, and to ply with a true
bent to your hand ; and thefe too are light, be-
ing made of fir-.wood for< two or three lengths
pearcft to the hand, and of other wood nearer
to the top, that a man might very cafily ma-
nage the longeft of them that ever I faw with
cnc hand ; and thefe, when you have given
ovcfr
ga Tie CoMPLETB Aki;lbr« I^rtlL
Qvtr ^ngliBg for a feafon, beii^ taken to pieces,
and laid up in fome dry place, may afterwards
be fet togecher again in their former poftures^
asd will be as ftrait, found, and good as the
jBrft hour they were made ; and being laid in
pil and colour, according to your mafter fFal^
iM^s diredion, will laft many years.
The length of your line, to a man that
4(nows how to handle his rod, and to tail it, is
no manner of incumbrance, excepffing in woody
places, and in landing of a filh,'^ which every
one chat can afford to angle for pleafure, has
fomebody to do for him i and the length of line
is a mighty advantage to the filhing at xliilance ;
and to Bih fne^ and far cff^ is the nrft and prin-
cipal rule for Trout angling *.
Your line in this cafe (hould never be left,
Dor ever exceed two hairs next to the hook ; for
one, though fome 1 know will pretend to more
an than their fellows, is indeed too few, the
leaft accident, with the fineft hand, being fufii-
<:ient to break it : but he that cannot kill a
Trout of twenty inches long with two, in a ri«
^er clear of wood and weeds, as this and fome
others of ours are, deferves not the name of an
angkr f.
Now to have your whole line as it ought to
be,, two of thie firft lengths neareft the hook
-jhould be of two hairs a piece, the next three
Jcngths above them of three, the next three
above them of four, and fo of 6ve and fix,
• An artift may eafily tbro^ twelve yards of Jine with
cne hand» and with two he may as eafily throw eighteen.
f See the directions for voof rod and }ine in the notes oa
flhap. JCXi. PartJL
and
Chap. V. Tie Compi^etb AKOLfiit. jj
and fevcft, to the very top : by which means,
yopr rod and (ackle will in a manner be taper
from your very hand to your hook ; your lint:
wUl fall much better and ftraiter, and call yoiif
fiy to any certain place to which the hand an4
eye Ihall direft it, with lefs weight and violence^
that would o^herwife circle the water, and fright
away the fifli.
In cafling your line, do it always before you 9^
and fo that your fly may firft fall upon the water,
und as little of your line with it as is pofCblci^
though if the wind be (tifF, you will then of
Deceffity be compelled to drown a good part of
your line, to keep your fly in the water; and
in cafling your fly, you muft aim at the fur-
ther or nearer bank, as the wtnd ferves your
turn ; which alfo will be with and againit you
on the fame fid€ feveral times in an hour, as the
4^ver winds in its courfe, and you will be forced
to angle up and down by turns accordingly i
ibut are to endeavour, as much as you can, to
i)ave the wind evermore on your back, ami
always be fure to ftand as far off the bank as
your length will give you leave, when you throw
to the contrary fide ^ though when the wind will
not permit you fo to dp, and that you are coi|^
itrained to angle on the fame fide whereof
you ftand, you muft: then ftand on the very
orink of the river, and caft your fly at tl^
jutmoft lenglh of your rod and line, up or
/down the river, as the gale ferves.
• Till yott«rp a proficient, every throw will go near to
coft yott a liook ; therefore pra^ife for fomc time without
aae.
'84 T^r CoMPLECE Angler. PartlL
Ic only remains, touching yoar line, to en-
quire whether your two hairs next to the hook,
are better twifted, or open ? And for that, I
ihould declare that I think che open way the
better, becaufe it makes le6 (hew in the water,
but that I have found an inconvenience or two,
ior three, that have made me almoft weary of
that way ; of which one is, that without difpute
they are not fo ftrong twifted as open ; another,
that they are not eafily to be taftened of fe
cxa£t an equal length in the arming, that the
one will not caufe the other to bag, by which
means a man has but one hair upon the matter
CO truft to ; and the laft is, that thefe loofe fly-
ing hairs are not only more apt to catch upon
•very twig or bent they meet with, but more-
over the hook, in falling upon the water, will
very often rebound, and fly back betwixt the hairs,
and there ftick, which, in a rough water efpe-
cially, is not prefently to be difcemed by tjie
angler, fo as the point of the hook fhall hahi
revcrfcd ; by which means your fly fwims back-
ward, makes a much greater circle in the wa-
ter, and, till taken home to you and (et right,
will never raife any fifh -, or if it Ihould, I am
fare, but by a very extraordinary chance, can
hit none *.
Having done with both thefe ways of fi(hing
at the top, the length of your rod, and line
and all, i am next to teach you how to make
a fly; and afterwards of what dubbing y6u
V
* This, aod the otberiAcoi^vMrieiicies mentioned iiFthis
paragraph, are effediftally avoided by the uie of a fioe gra(5,
or gat, of about half a yard long, next th« hook. See tfre
Botes on Chap. XXL Part L
■ ' ■ are
Chap, V. y^r Complete A »Gi/K*tt. jj*
arc to make the fevers^ flies I Ih&ll heraificer.
name to you. <
In making a fly then, which is not a hackle or
palmer-fly (for of thofe, and their feveral kinds,
we Ihall have occafion to fpeak every month
in the year) you are firft co hold your book faffc .
betwixt the fore-flnger and thumb of your left-
hand, with the back of the fliank upwards, and
the point towards your finger's end ; then take
a ftrpng fmall iitk, of the colour of the fly you
intend to make, wax it well with wax of the fame
colour (to which end, you are always, by the
way, to have wax of all colours about you) and
draw it betwixt your finger and thumb, to the
head of the ihank, and then whip it twice or
thrice about the bare book, which you muft knov
is done, both to prevent iUpping, and alfo that
the fliank of the hook may not cut the hairs of
your towght, which fometimes it will otherwife
do: which being done, take your line and drav^
It likewife betwixt your finger and thumb, hold-
ing the hook fo fad as only to fulFer it to pafs
by, until you have the knot of your towght al-
moil to the middle of the fliank of your hook^
on the infide of it ^ then whip your filk twice oc
thrice about both book and line, as hard as (he
ftrength of the filk will permit ; which being
done, ftrip the feather for the wings proportion-
able to the bignefs of your fly, placing that
fide downwards which grew uppermofl before,
upon the back of the hook^ leaving fo much
only as to ferve for the length of the wing of
the poi»t of the plume, lying revcrfed from the
end of the ftiank upwards ; then whip your
filk twice or thrice about the root- end ot the
feather.
fuAer^ hook, and towght i which beii^ done^
clip off the root end of the feather xlofe by the
snniog, and then whip the filk faft and &fn
ftboi^ the book and towght, until you come to
the bend of the hook, Qxt not further, as yoo
do ^tljQxdani and fo make a very unhandfoaie,
and, in plain Etiglifiy a vGry unnatural and fl»^-
lefs fly % which being done, cut away the end
of your towght, and faften it, and then take
your dubbing, which is to make the body of
your By, as oiuch as you think convenietit^ and
nc^ing it lightly with your hook betwixt thj^
finger and thumb of your left-hand, take yoor
filk with the right, and twilling it betwixt the
finger and thximb of that hand, the dubbing will
ijpin itfelf about the iilk, which when it has done^
whip it about the armed book backward, till you
come to the fetning on of the wings ; and then
take the feather for the wings, and divide it equat*
]y into two parts, and turn tbem4>ack towards the
^nd of the hook, the one on the one fide, and
the other on the other of the (hank, holding them
fafl: in that pofture betwixt the fore-finger and
tliumb of your left-hand; which done, warp
them fodown as to (land, and (lope towards the
bend of the hook ; and having warped up to
the end of the fliank, hold the By faft betwixt
the finger and thumb of your left-hand, and
then take the Qlk betwixt the finger and thumb
of your right-hand, and, where the warping ends,
pinch or nip it with your thumb-nail againft
your finger, and flrip away the remainder of
your dubbing from the filk, and then with the
bare filk whip it once or twice about, make the
wings to ftand in due order, faften, and cut it off;
after
V.
Chap. V. ^Tfe Complete Akoibr. 3^7
after which, with the point of a needle, raife up
the dubbing gently from the warp, twitch off the
fuperfluous hairs of your dubbing, kave the
wings of an equal length, your fly will never
clfc Iwim true, and the work is done. And this
way of making a fly, which is certainly th(S
bcft of all other. Was taught me by a kinfman of
mine, one Captain Henry Jack/on^ a near neigh-
bour, an admirable fly-angler, by many de-
grees the bcft fly-maker that ever I yet met
with *• And now that I have told you how a
fly is to be made, you fliall pfcfently fee me
make one, with which you may peradventure
take a Trout this morning, notwithftanding the
unlikelinefs of the day ; for it is now iiine of the
clock, and fi(h will begin to rife, if they "will
rife to day : I will walk along by you, and look
on, and after dinner I will proceed in my lec-
ture of fly-fi(hing.
Viat. I confefs I long to be at the river, and
yet I could fit here all day to' hear you; burr
fome of the one, and fomc of the other, .will do
well 5 and I have a mighty ambition to cake a
Trout in your river Dove
Pifcat. I warrant you fball : I would not fof
more than I will fpcak of but you fhould, feeing
1 have fo extolled my river to you : nay, F will
keep you here a month, but you fliall have one
good day of fpOrt before you go*
* There needs nothing tnore befaid of thefe dirediions,
. than that hondreds have^ by means of them aloiie» become
excellent f^y^^makers. . -
For making a palmer, or hackle, fee the notes on
Chap..ViI.
VidL
/
jS 7**^ CoMPLET'E ANGLER- Part Hi
Fktt. You will find mr, I dcubc, too tradable
that way ; for in good earned, if buGnefs would
give me leave, and that it were fit, I could
find in my heart to ftay with you for ever.
PifcMt. I thank you. Sir, for that kind est-
preflion \ and now let me look out my things
to make this fly.
CHAP. VL
PiSCATOK.
Boy, come, give me my dubbing bag
here prefently ; and now. Sir, fince I
find you fo honeft a man, I will make
no fcruple to lay open my treafure before you.
Viai. Did ever any one fee the like ! what a
heap of trumpery is here ! certainly never an
angler in Europe has his (hop half fo well fur«
nilhed as you have.
Pifcat. You, perhaps, may think now, that I
rake together this trumpery, as you call it,. for
ihew only, to the end chat fuch as fee it, which are
not many I aflure you, may think me a great
mafteri n the art of angling : but let me tell you,
here are fome colours, as contemptible as they
fcem here, that are very hard to be got, and
fcarce any one of them, which, if it (hould be
loft, I (hould not mifs, and be concerned about
the lofsxj|Jt too, once in the year ; but look you<
Sir, amongft all thefe I will chufe out thefe two
colours only, of which this is bear's hair, this
I <iarkip^
X
Chap. VI. The CoMptETE Anoler. 39
tiarker^ no great matrcr what; but I am fure I
have killed a great deal of fifh with it ; and with
t>ne or both of thefe ybu (hall take Trout or
Grayling this very day, notwithftanding all dif*«
advantages^ or my art (hall fail me.
Viat. You promifc comfortably, and I have a
great deal of reafon to believe every thing you
fay ; but I wifli the fly were made^ that we were
at it.
Pifiai. That will not b^ long in doing : and
pray obferve then. You fee firft how I hold my
hook, and thus I begin. Look you, here are
my firft two or three whips jabout the bare hook;
thus I join hook and line ; thirs I put on my^
things ; thusi twir) and lap on my dubbing ) thu»
t work it up towards the head i thus I part my
Wings ; thus I nip my fuperfluous dubbing from
tnyUlk; thusfaften; thus trim and adjuft my
fiy, and there's a fly made ; and now iiow do
you like it?
. Viat. la earncfl, admirably well, and it per-
feftly refembles a fly 5 but we about London^
tnake the bodies of oiar flies both much bigger
and longer, fo long, as even almoft to the very
beard of the hook.
Pifcai^ I know it very well, and had one of
thofe flics given me. by an honeft gentleman, who
canle with my father tValton to give me a vifit %
which^ to tell you the truth, I hung in my par-
lour window to laugh at : 1but, Sir, you know
the proverb, " They who go to Romey muft do
•* as they ziRome do ^" and believe me, you muft
here make your flics after this fafhion, or you will
take no fifh. Come^ I will look you out a line,
and you fhall put it on, and. try it.^ There, Sir,
D d now
40 Tbi CoMVLzrz A^tiiJLVi. PartIL
now I chink you are fitted ; and now beyond the
farther end of the walk you (hall be^in : I fee at
that bend of the water above» the atr crifps the
water a little ; knit your line firft here, and then
go up thither, and fee what you can do.
Fiai. Did you fee that. Sir.
Pi/cai. Yes, I faw the filh, and he law you
too, which made him turn ibort^ you muft.fiih
further oflf, if you intend to have any fport here %
this is no New-Rhir^ let me tell you. That was
a good Trout, believe me ; did you touch him ?
yiaL No, 1 would I bad, we would not have
parted fo. Look you, there was another % this
is an excellent fly.
Pifcaf. That fly, I am fure, would kill filh, if
the day were right ; but they only chew at it, I
fee, and will not take it. Come, Sir, let us return
hack to the flfhing-houfe; this ftill water I fee
will not do our bufinefs to-day ;. you (hall now, if
you pleafe, make a fly yourfclf •, and try what
you can do in the flreams with that ; and I know
a Trout taken with, a fly of your own makingt
will pleafe you better than twenty with one of
* To make a fly is fo cflential, that he hardly delcrvei
rhe name of an angler who cannot do it. There are many
who wilt go to a tackle-fliop, and tell the mafter of it^ a«
Dapper does SmhtU^ in the JUbmifif that they ntoamt t^fy \
fox which they have a thing put into their hands, that woSld
pofe a naturalift to find a refemblance for : thoagh, whem
particular dlirc£tion» hare been given, I. have known diem
excellently made by Mr. ^«6ii HtrUt of Bili-yMrdt near
Tempk-ifor^ London. But do thoa« my honeft friend, leant
to make thy own Aies ; and be aiTured, that in colleding
and arranging the materials, and imitating the varions
ihapes and colours of thefe admirable creature^t there it
Utile left pleafure than even in catching £ih* .
5 mine.
Chap. VI. The Complete Angler. 41
mine. . Give me that bag again* fifrah ) look
you. Sir, ther^ is a hook, towght, filk, and n
feather for the wings \ be doing with thofe, and
I will look you ouc a dubbing, that I think wili
do.
ViiU. This is a very little hook.
Pifcat. That may fcrvc to inform you, that ic
is for a very little fly, and you muft make your
wings accordingly ; for as the cafe ftands, it muft
be a little 6y, and a very little one too, that
muft do your butinefs^ W^ll faid J believe me
you fhift your fingers very handfomely ; I doubt
1 have taken upon me to teach my matter. So,
jiere*s your dubbing now.
Fiat. This dubbing is very black.
Pifcat. It appears fo in hand ; but ftep to the
door and hold it up betwixt yotir eye and the fun,
and it will appear a (hining red ; let me tell you,
never a man in England can difcern the true co-
lour of a dubbing any way but that, and therer
fore chufe always to make your flies on fuch a
bright fun-lhine day as this, which alfo you may
the better do, becaufe it is worth nothing tofilh
in : here, put it on, and be fure to make the body
of your fly as flendcr as you can. Very good !
upon my word you have a made a marveUous.
handfome fly 1 - .
Viat. I am very ^lad to hear it -, Vis the firft
that ever I made of this kind in my life.
Pifcat. Away, away ! You are a doftor at it \
but 1 will not commend you too much, left I
make you proud. Come, put it on, and you (hall
now go downward to fome ilreams betwixt the
rocks below the little foot-bridge you fee there,
and try your fortune. Take heed of flipping
D d 2 ' into
4« ne CoUPLTLTz AtidLtK. F*tK
Mico the water as you follow me under this rock
foy now you are over, and now throw in.
Fiat. This is a fine ftream indeed r there's
one ! I have hinr.
Pifiai. And a precious catch you have of him 5
pull him out ! I fee you have a tender hand :
this is a diminutive gentleman^e'en throw him ia
again, and let him grow till he be more worthy
your anger.
Fiai. Pardon me. Sir, all^s fifli that corner
to the hook with me now. Another I
Pifcat, And of the fame (landing.
Via$. I fee I (hall have good fport now : ano^
iher \ and aGraylit^. Why you have fi(h here
at will.
Pi/cat. Come, come, crofs the bridge, and go
down the other fide lower« where you will find
finer dreams, and better fport, I hope, than thisv
Look you. Sir, here is a fine ftream now, yoa
have length enough, ftand a little further off,
let me entreat you, and do but filh this ftream
like an artift, and peradventure a good fi(h may
fall to your ihare. How now ! what is aU
gone i
Viat. No, I but touch'd him ; but that was a
filh worth taking*
Pifcai. Why now, let me tell you, you loft that
fi(h by your own fault, and through your own
cagcrnefs and hafte •, for you are never to offer to
ftrike a good fifh, if he do not ftrike himfel'f,
till firft you fee him turn his head after he ha&
taken your fly, and then you can never ftrain
your tackle in the ftriking, if you ftrike with any
manner of moderation. Come, throw in once
again, and fiih me this ftream by inches ; for I
6 . aflure
y
/
rUt* XI7.i> Ft At JW' ^-•< Viv* !!•
rob ; JLccorilm^ toA^t ot' briiam ^i^jg
I. VL TfeCOMPf-ETE ANGtER. 43
aflure you^ here are very good fiOi; both Trour
and Qxayling, lie here^ and at that great ftone
on the other fide, 'tis tea to one a good Trout
jgives you the meeting.
Viat. I have him now, but he is gone dowa
towards the bottom ; I cannot fee what he is^
^et he ihould be a good &(h by his weight i but
ht makes no great ftir.
Pifcat. Why then, by what you fay, I dai«
.ventur^ taajTure you, 'tis a Grayling, who is one
of the deadeft-hearted fiQies in the world, and
the bigger he is the more eaGly taken. Look
you, now you fee him plain ; I told you whac
he was; bring hither that landing-net, boy$
and now. Sir, he is your own ; and believe me
a good one, fixt^en inches long I warrant him ;
I have taken mone fuch this year.
Viat^ I never fa w a Grayling before look fa
black.
P//J:. Did you not ? why then Jet me ts\\ you»
that you never faw one before in right feafon :
for then a Grayling is very black about his head,
^ills, and down his back, and has his belly of a
idark grey, dappled with black fpots, as you fe^
this is; and 1 am apt to conclude, that from
thence he derive^ his name of Umber. Though
} mud tell you, this fi(h m paft his prime, and
begins to decline, and was in better feafon at
Chriftmas \\\9kn he is qow. 3ut move on, for it
grows tQward$ dinner-time, and there is a very
great and fine ftream below, unckr that rock,
{hat fills the deepcft pool in all the rivtr, whcr«
you are almoft fare of a good fifli. ,
Viat. Let him cooie, 1*11 try a fall with him ;
b^t I h^d thoMghc, that the Qrayling had been
P d 3 always
'44 ^be CoMPL^ri AnotUKi Part II.
always in feafon with the Trout, luid had come
in and gone out with him.
Pifc. Oh no ! afiiire yourfelf a Grayling is a
winter-fiib ; but fuch a one as would deceive any
but fuch as know him very well indeed, for his
Bdhy even in his word feafon, is fo firm, aad
will fo eafily calver, that in plain truth he is very
good meat at all times ; but in his perfed feafon,
which, by the way, none but an over-grown
Grayling will ever be, I think him fo good a fi(h
as €0 be little inferior to the beft Trout that ever
I tafted in my life.
yiaf. Here's another (kip-jack, and I have
raifed five or fix more at leaft whilft you were
fpeaking : well, go thy way little Dove / thou
art the fineft river that ever I faw, and the
fulleft of Bfh. Indeed, Sir, I like it fo well,
that I am afraid you will be troubled with me
Once a year, fo long as we two live.
Pifi. I am afraid I ihall not. Sir; but were
you once hero a May or a Jumy if good fport
would tempt you, I (hould then expcdt you
would fomecimes fee me; for you would thea
fay it were a fine river indeed, if you had once
feen the fport at the height.
Viat. Which I will do, if I live, and that
you pleafe to give me leave : there was one, and
there another.
Pifc. And all this in a ttrzn&c river, and
with a fly of your own making! why what a
dangerous man are you !
y$ai. I, Sir, but who taught me ? and as
Damaia^ fays by hi$ man Darus^ fo you may fay
by me,
Ch^. VL Ybe Complete Anolir. 45
*If mj man fucb praifes have
What thin have /, thai taught the knave ♦ ?
But what have we got here ? a rock fpringing
up in the middle of the river ! this is one of the
oddeft fights that ever I faw.
PHc. Why, Sir, from that pike f, that you
fee (landing up there diftant from
the rock, this is called PikcPool: t !i"A'.r
and young Mr. JJfJwc WaUim was ^ ^,;^ -ftitpU,^
fo pleafed with it, as to draw it in «w almoft aia
landfcape in black and white, in %• ^^ ftandt,
a blank book I have at home, as ';ijX,,%i,'/,
he has done feveral profpeds of my and not far frm
houfe alfo, which I keep for a me- Mr. Cotton 'i
morial of his favour, and will (hew ^«>» ^'^^
you when wc come up to dinner. ^tJ Jt"r
iokis a/wift tariir btt^xt maw^ ^gh*J recist much highir
smd higgir ibam St. Paul'i church, hi/ore it was hurnt. And
this Dove hiing offofed hj cm of thi highefi of them, has, at
lafi, forced itfilf aiway through it ; anm ajfter a mile^s conceal-
mint, Mf fears agata ^th morg glory aad beauty than heforf
fhmt oppifitiou, funning through the mofi pleafant vaUeyfi ^f^d
m^ fruitful meadotims thai this nation caujuftly boafi of
Via(. f las youfig mafter Ifaac Jf^alfan been
here too ?
Pifc. Yes, marry has he, Sir, and that again,
and again too, and in Frfince Once, and at Rome^
and ac Venice^ and 1 can't tell where : but I in-
tend to aik him a great many hard que(lion9 fo
foon as 1 can fee him, which will be, God will-
ing, next month. In the mean cin^e, Sir, to
come to this fine dream at (he head of (l^is great
* Sidn0yh Arcadia.
P d 4 pool.
a6 7'ie CoMPtETE Angler. Part IL
pool, you muft venture over thefc flippery, cob-
Jing (tones } believe me. Sir» there you were
nimble, or elfe you had been down; but no>y
you are got over, look to yourfelf : for, on my
word, if a Bfli rife here, he is like to be fuch a
one as will endanger your tackle: how now !
Fiaf. I think you have fuch command here}
over the filhes, that you can raifc them by youc
'word, as they fay conjurers can do fpirits, an^
afcerward make them do what you bid them ;
for here's a Trout has taken my ^y, I had rathec
have loft a crown. What luck's this ! he was a
lovely filh, and turned up a fide like a Salmon. '
Pifc. O Sir, this is a war where you fomc-
timcs win, and muft fometimes expcdt to lofe.
Never concern yourfelf for the lofs of your fly,
for ten to one I teach you to make a better.'
Who's that calls ? '
Serv. Sir, will it pleafc you to come. to dinner ?
Pifc. We come. You hear, Sir, we are called,
?nd now take your choice, whether you will
climb this fteep hill before you, from the top of .
which you will go diredlly into the houfe, oi
back again over thefe ftepping-ftones, and about
^y the bridge. • , •
Vial. Nay, fure, the neareft way is beft ; at
leaft my ftomach tells me fo; an4 I am now fd
well acquainted with your rocks, that I fear
them not,
Pffc. Come then, follow me j and fo fopn as
we have dined, we will down again to the little
fioufe, where I will begih at the place 1 left oflF^
about fly. fifhing, and read you another lefture;
for I have a great deal more to fay upon that
fubjed. ' ? ■— ' ':
' ^^ ' Fiat.
Chap. Vll. ^i^ Complete Arc LER. 4f
Viat. The more the better; I could nevcp
have met with a more obliging mafter, my firft
excepted ; nor fuch fport can all the rivers about
f^oftdon ever afiord, as is to be found in thi$
pretty river.
' Pifc. You dcferve to have better, both be*
caufe I fee yovi are willing to take pains, and foe
liking this little fo well ; and better I hope tq
ihcw you (before we pare.
■■
CHAP. VII.
Y X A T O R.
COME, Sir, haying now well dined, and
being again fet in your little houfe, I will,
now challenge your promife, and intreac
you to proceed in your inftrudlion for fly-lifhing,-
yrhich, that you may ,be the better encouraged
to do, I will aflure you, that I have not loft, I
t^ink, one fyllable of what you have told me ;
but very well retain all your direftions both for
the rod, line, and making a fly, and now defire
an account of the flies themfeives.
. Pifc. Why, Sir, I am ready to give it you,
and (hall have the whole afternoon to do k in,
(f nobody come in to interrupt us; for yoj muft
know, befides the unfltnefs of the day, that the
afternoons, fo early in Marcbj fignify very little
to angling ^ith a fly, though with a minnow,
or a worm, ibmething might, I confefs, be
done.
To
'4S the CoMPLzirt knot Evt. Fart III
To begin then whetc I left off-, my father
H^allcn idis us but of twelve artificial flies to
auiigle with at the [top, and gives their names i
of which fooie are common with us here ; and I
think I guefs at mod of them by his defcription^
and I beliere they all breeds and are taken in
ODr rivers, though we do not make them either
of the fame dubbing or fafliion. And it may
be in the rivers about Londonj which I prefume
he has moft frequented, and where 'tis likely he
lias done moft execution, there is not much no-
tice taken of many more : but we are acquainted
with feveral others here, though perhaps I may
reckon fome of. his by other names too \ but if
I do, I fhall make you amends by an addition
to his catalogue. And althpugh the forenamed
great mafter in the art of angling, for fo in
tn^fh he is, tells you that no man fhoutd in ho-
licfty catch a Trout till the middle of Marcb^
yet I hope he will give a man leave fooner to
take a Gravling, which, as I told you, is in the
dead montns in his befl: feafon \ and do aflfure
you, which I remember by .a very remarkable
token, 1 did once take upon the fixtb day of
Deiember one, and only one, of the biggeft Gray-
lings and the beft in feafon, that ever I yet faw
or tafted ; and do ufually take Trouts too, and
^h a fly, not only before the middle of this
month, but almoft every year in February^ un^
kls it be a very ill fpring indeed ; and have fome-i
times in January^ fo early as Nexv-year^s-tide^ and
in froft andfnow taken Grayling in a warm fun-
ihine day for an hour or two about noon -, and ta
fi(h for him with a grub it is then the belt un$e
I
Chap. VIL T'be Complete Angler. 4^
I {hall therefore begin my fly-fiihing with
that month, thoUgh I confcfs very few begin fa
foon, and that fuch as are fo fond of the fporc
as to embrace all opportunities, can rarely in
chat month find a day fit for their purpofe, and
till yoUt that upon my knowledge thefe flies ia
a warm fun, for an hour or two in the day, are
certainly uken.
JANUARY.
1. A Red Browk, with wings of the male of
a mallard almoft white : the dubbing of the tail
of a black long coated cur, fuch as they com-
monly make muflfs of -, for the hair on the tail of
fuch a dog dies and turns to a red brown, but
the hair of a fmooth-coated dog of the fame
colour will not do, becaufe it will not die, but
retains its natural colour, and this fly is taken in
a warm fun, this whole' month through.
2. There is alfo a very little Bright Ditn-
Gnat, as little as can poflibly be made, fo little as
never to be filhed with^ with above one hair next
the hook ; and this is to be made of a mixt dub-
bing of marten's furr, ^nd the white of a hareV
fcuc, with a very white and fmall wing ; and'
Yis no great matter how fine you fifli, for no-
thing will rife in this month but a Grayling, and
of them I never, at this feafon, law any taken
with a fly, of above a foot long in my life : but
of little ones about the bignefs of a Smelt, in a
warm day, and a glowing fun, you tpay rake
enough with thefe two flies, and they are both
t^ken the whole month through.
V
F E-
gp the CoMPLSTE Anclbr. Paitll;
FEBRUARY.
1. Where the red-brown of the !aft montH
ends, another almoft of. the faa>e colour begins^
with (his faving, that the dubbing of this muljb
{>e of fomcthing a blacke)- colour, and both of
|hem warpt on with red (ilk \ the dubbing that
(hould make this Qy, and that is the trueft co-
lour, is to be got off the black Q>oc of a hog's
ear : not that a black (pot in aiiy part of the
iiog will not afford the fame colour ; but that
the hair in that place is, by many degrees, fofter^
and more fit for the purpofe : his wing muft; be
as the other, and this kills aU this n^ontht a^d is
called the leffer red-brown.
2. This month alfo a Plasm Hackle (f ), or
"^palmer-Hy made with a rough black body,
cither of black fpaniel's furr, or the whirl of an
oftrich feather, and the red hackle of a capon
over all, will kill, and if the weather be righc,
make very good fport.
3. Alio a Lesser Hackle, with a black:
body alio, filver twift over chat, and rrcd feather
over all, will fill your pannier if the month be
open, and not bound up in ice and fnow, witb
very good fi(h ; but in cafe of a froft and fnow^
you are to angle only with the fmalleft gnats^
browxu and duns, you can n^ake, and with tho(^
VARIATIONS.
The author it now in the month of Ftbruary^ dfuipi;
v^hichafc taken, the
(j) Plain Hackle ; which we would recommend to be
made of black oft rich herl Warped, or tied down to the
<l4ibbiog with red £lk, and a redxock's hacjUe over all. ,
aro
Chap. VIL fh CoirfptEtE Angler; $i
are only to expcd Graylings no bigger thaii
Sprats.
4. In this month, upon 3 whirling round'
water, we have a Great Hackee, the body
black, and wrapped with a red feather of a capon
untrimmed ; that is, the whole length of thef
hackle daring out v for we fometimes barb the
hackle -feather fhort all over^ fometimes barb it
only a little, and fometimes barb it clofe under-
neath, leaving the whole length of the feather
on the top, or back of the fly, which makes
it fwim better, and, as occafion ferves, kills
very great fi(b.
5* We make ufe alfo, in this month, of ano-
ther great hackle, the body black, and ribbed
over with gold twift, and a red feather over all y
which alfo does great execution (2).
6. Alfo a Great Dun, made with dun
bear's hair, and the wings of the grey feather of
a mallard near unto his tail ; which is abfolutely
the beft fly can be thrown upon a river this
month, and with which an angler Ihall have
admirable fport- ^
7. We have alfo this month the Great
Blue Dun, the dubbing of the bottom of bear's
hair next to the roots, mixt with a little blue
camlet, the wings of the dark grey feather of a
mallard.
VARIATIONS.
(2) GdLi^-twisa' Hackle ; the fame dubbings warp*
ing and hackle, with gold-twi^.
N. B. The/e hackles are taken chiejlj from nine to tk'ven
in the mornings and from one to three in the afternoon,
They *wiU do for any month in the year % and upon any
, wafer^
8. We
$t Tliv CoMPLETB Akolcr. Pait IL
Ss We have alfo this monih a DARK-BR6wir^
the dubbing of a brown hair off the flank of a
brended cow, and the wings of the grey drake's
feather.
And note, that theie fevefal hackles^ or pal«
mer-flies, are fome for one water, and one (ky^
and fome for another, and according to the
change of chofe, we alter their fize and colour i
and note alfo, that both in this, and all other
months of the year, when you do not certainly
know what fly is taken, or cannot fee any fiih
to rife, you are then to put on a fmali hackle,
if the water be clear, or a bigger, jf fomething
dark, until you have taken one; and then
thrufting your fin^r through his gills, to pull
out his gorge, which being opened with your
knife, you will then difcover what fly is tskeo^
and may fit yourfelf accordingly^ .
For the making of a hackle, or palmer fly,
my father fTaltan has already given you fuffi*
cient direAion *.
MARCH.
^ Bot, with }tf. CetipnU good leare» he has not» wSt has
any author, that I know o^ unlefs we are to take tb^t (ot
s palmery which fVuiton . has given diredlionft for making
page 111; which 1 can never do till I fee» what I hav«
never yet Teen, <sva;. Caterpillars with wings. R«>je^ing,
therefore, wings as nnaatoral and abfurd ; fappofing yoa
would make the plain hackle or palmer, which are terms of
the fame import, the method of doing it is as follows, o/is*
Hold your hook in a horizontal pofition, with the Ihank
downwards, and the bent of it between the fore-finger and
ahumb of your left hand \ and, having a fine briftle, and
other materials, lying by you, take half a yard of fine red
marking- filk, well waxed, and, with your right hand, givie
it four or five turns about the Ihank of the hook, inclining
the torus to the right hand : -when yoo are near the end of
the
r -m.
Chap. VII. Ti^CoJAP%ZTB AuvLtfL^ 5j
MARCH.
For this month you are to uFe all the faiiic
hackles, and flies with the other, but you are
to make them Id's.
I . We have befides for th» month a little
Dun calied a Whirling Dun (3), though it U
not the Whirling Dun indeed, which is one of the
beft flies we have, and for this the dubbiag mud:
be of the bottom furr of a fquirrel's tail, and
the wing of the grey feather of a drake.
2. Alib
the fliMiky turn it into fildi a loop as yott are hereafter di«
fe^ed to make for faftening oiF, and draw it tigbt* leaving
the ends of the filk to hang down at each end of the hook*
HaVtng iinged the end of your briftle, lay the fanse along oii
the inude of the (hank of the hook^ as tow as the ben^
^md whio four or ive times roand ; then tinging the other
end of the briftle to a fit length, turn it over to the back^tf
theihank, and, pinching it into a proper form, whip^'down
ftnd faftcn off, as befope direded $ which wif! bring botk
«Bd3 of the fiUc into the beiH. After you have waxM yonr
filk
VARIATIONS.
(3) GaaAT Whirling Dum. Dob with fox cvb, or
l^uirrel's-furr« well mixed with about a iixth part of the
£neii hog^s-wool. warp with pale orange>wiogs, very lar^c^
/aken from the quill -feather of a ruddy hen, the head lo he
.fadetied with aih-colour filki a red cock's hackle, at f«H
lengthj may be wrapped under the wings, and a turn or
two lower towards the tail.
7'ijs is a killing fy^ and is io he /em rifing out of the fei^
in moft Trout river s^ late in the evenings Jeldom hefore fuU'Jet,
and cotttinujs on thi njjater till midnight^ or after* // is found
fnojl of the avarm monihi ; but kills chiffy iu a hlujlerittg nwMtm
£*vtning^ frc^m the middle ^May to the end £/* July-
^4 yi^ CoMPtBTE Anglfr. Pajt lli
2. Alfo a Bright Brown, the dubbing either
of the brown of ^ fpanie)^ or that of a cow's
flank, with a grey wing;
3. Alfd
filk again, take three or four (iramk-d^ ad oftrich feather,
and holding them, and the bent of the hook as at firft di-
rtGtedf the feathers to yoar left hand, and the roots in tht
bent of your hook, with that end of the iilk which you jaU
row waxed^ whip them three or four times round, and
faften off: then turning the feathers to the right, and
twifting tfaein and the filk with yotu forefio|er and thuriib^
wind them round the (hank of the hook, ftilT fupplying the
ihort ftrands with new ones, as they fai], till yocl come to,
the end and fallen off. When you have fo done, dtp off
the ends of the feathers, and trim the body oPthe palmo*
fmall at the extreraiues, and full in the middle^ and wax
both ends of your filk, which &re now divided and lie at
fither end of the hook.
Lay your work by you, and taking a (Irong bold hackle^
with fibres about half an inch. long, flraiteu the ilem very
carefully, and holding the fmall end between the fore-finge^
and thumb of your left hand, with, thofe of the right, firoak
the fibres the contrary way to that which th^y naturally lie ;
and taking the hook, and holding it as before, lay the point
of the hackle into the bent of the hook with the hollow,
which is the paleft fide, upwards, and whip it very faft td
its place : in doing whereof^ be cai'efuf not to tie in many
pf the fibres ; or if you (bou Id chance to do fo, pick thelU
out with the point of a very large needle.
When the hackle is thus made fail, the utmoU care atu!
nicety is necelTary in winding it on ; for if you fail in this,'
yottr fly is fpoiled, and you mud begin all again ; to pre-
vent which, keeping the b6)Iow or pale fide to your left
hand, and^ as much as pofiible^ the fide of the fiem down
on the' dubbing, wind the hackle twice round, and holding
fad what yon have fo wound, pick out the loofe fibres,*
which you may have taken in, and make another turn : then
lay hold of the hackle with the third and fourth fingers of
your left hand, with which you may extend it while yott
difengage the loofe fibres as before.
in
Cliap.VlI. 91&tf Complete Angler. 5^
ji Alfo a Whitish Don made of the roots
of earners hair, and the wings of the grey fea-
ther of a mallard;
4. There
in this manner piiocieed tilt you come to within an eighth
of an inch of the end of the ihank, where you will find an
end of filk hanging, and by which time you will find the
^bres at the great end of the hackle fomewhat difconipofed i
clip theib oftclofe to the ftem, and, with the end of your
middle finger, prefs the ftem cloie to the hook^ while^ with
the fore-fineer of your right-hatid, you tarn the filk into a
loop ; which when you have twice ^ut oVel^ the end of th^
ihank of the hook, lodp aiid all^ your work is fafe.
Then wax that end bf the filk whkh you now ufed^ and
turn it over as before, till Vob have taken up nearly all that
remained of the hook, obierviiig to lay the turna neatly fide
by fide ; and laflly, clip off the ends of the filk : thus will
TOO have made a bait that will catch Trout of the largeft fize^
in any watti' in EngfoHiii,
Ahd left the method of fafteniftg bff, i^hicH OCcufs fo often
in this kind of work, fliould not appear fufiiciently intelli*'
gible, the reader will fee it reprefented Pig. p. Plate X.
It is true, the method above defcribed wiu require fome
irarf aiion in the cafe of gold and filver-twiH palmers ; in the
making whereof, xht management of the twift is to be con*
iidered as another operation ; but this variation will fug*-
geft itfelf to every reader, as will alfo the method of making
thoie flies^ contained in the notes, that have hackle undet
the wings ; which elfe w6 fhould have added to Cottonh di^
ledlions for making a fly^ Which he gives Fimter in the filh*
ing-houfe« See Page 35. Part 11. .
The liireBions of Mr. Q^wm fhrmaking flies art M Be con''
JiJered as the 'very bafis and fcundation of that art^ no author
before him halving enter treated the fuhje^i fo c^ioujly and ac-^
eurately as he hat done : njuhat ^imfrrvements hia've been made
Jince his time^ hanje been handed about in manufcript lifls^ but
have hardiy e<ver been communicated to the public,
A reverend i *worthy, and ingenious friend of mine^ alefvet
9f anglings nvho has praSiifed that and the art offly^making
tbefe thirty years ^ and is the gentleman mentioned in the note^
Page 259, has genervt(J!y communicated to me the rtfult of his
E c ^ nua^
56 Tie CoMPtBTE ANCtSRr. PattY^
4. There is alfo for this montb a Ajr called
the Thorn-Tree Fly, the dubbing, an abfo**
lute black mixt with eight or ten hairs of J^aid-,
la coloured * mohair, the body as lictle as can
many years txferifn^i, in aUft of agreat numhtr tffiis^ mat-
mentioned fy Cotton* fwith fome i/ariatio$u in the manmr of
making tbofe defcribed in the teyct. Audas to thefe dtviatiom^,
it is ho fed they 'will be confidered as imfrvuemtnts ; fim€ 1 atm
eutthorixedto/ay^ that the abo-vegentUman basy in tho making
ofjliesy made it a confiant rule tofolUnn nature^
Part of this lift is, for vefy obvious reafoTts^ <wrought intOi
tf>iformof notes on thai of Afr. Cotton, and the rej^ 'with'
another ttery vaJnable catalogue ,. cvnfofed by a narth'COUKtfy
angler, and commmicatid to me by the fame gentlemanf. makt
N® I. and II. of the Appendix to this Folunu,
The reader will there alfo find N^ III. a Uft offUesJ^rmerly
f(ublijhed in the Angler'j Vade Mecum, fo often referred to in'
the courfe of this oiwi; and though thejliesfhereis{contai,ned.
are f aid to be chiefly ofufe inftoney, I have tried fome ofthem^
effecially the duns, in other rivers, and found them to be ex^
cellent.
The reader may poj/ibly havefeen or heard of tf mamtfcripL
lift, comfoffd by Mr. Jenunit, a famons fty-as^ler, deceafed, .
H copy ivhereof I ha^e by me: but as it does not give themonthi
'^n.vlfen the feveral flies defcribed by him are taken, it vnas thougf^t-
it fwould anfwer no end to publiftk it,
* Ifabella Spexie di colore chepartecipa del bianco e ddgtaUo^
Altieri^^ Di^onary. A kind of whitiih yellow* or, .as ibme
iay, buff-colour a little. foiled..
. How it came by this name will appear from the foUo^ne-
anecdote, for which I am obliged to a. very ingenious and
learned lady. The archduke Albertus, who had married;
the Infanta Ifabella^ daughter of FMUp the fecond» kisg of:
&pain, with whom he had the Low Countries in dowry, in
the year 1602, having determined to lay fiege to O/^rW, then
in the pofleilton of the heretics, his pious princefs> who at-^*
tended him in that expedition, made a vow, that till it was
taken (he would never change, her clothes. Contrary to eXi-
pe£bition, as the ftory fays, it was three years before the-
place w«s reduced, in which time her highnefs's linen- had.^
acquired the above-mentioned hue.
' ■ be
tiKip.^lt.m CoMPLETiE Angler. sf
he made, and the wJngs of a bright mallard's
ffeathcf, an admirable fly, and in great repute
amongft us for a kilFef.
g. There is befides this, another (4) Blue
Dun, the dubbing of which it is made being
thus to be got. Take A fmall -tooth comb, ahd
^ith it conib the neck of a black greyhound^
and the down that fticks in the teeth will be the
fineft'blue that ever you faw. The wings of
this fly can hardly be too whttfr, and he is taktn
iaibout the tenth of this months and lafteth till
the four and t^^entieth,
6. jpfom the tenth of thi? tlionth alfo till to-
wards the end, is taken a little Black Gnat 5
the dubbing either of the ftirf of a black watcr-
. dogi or the down of a yoitng black w^i;er-coor,
the Wings of the male of a rfiallard as white as
ftnay be, the body as littlfc as you can poflibly
hiakc it, and the wing? as fliorc as his body.
' 7, From the fixtcenth bf this month alfo td
fhe end of it, we ufe a Bright Brown, thd
dubbing for which is to be had out of a .ikin-
iiej-'s lime-pits, and of the hair of an aborttvd
VARIATIONS. -
(4) Blue, or Violet Dun. Dub with the roots of a fox-
i*uh*B tailf ami a vefy little blue violet worfted, warp with pale
yellow fifk ; wing of the pale part of a darling's feather.
Taken froni eight to ele*ve7t^ andfrem me to three i
This fly^ fwhich is alfo called the aJb-coloHred duttj and blue
diifty is froductdfrom a cadis ; // // /o 'very fmall , that the
buok^ kno^n at the fhofs by theji^^ N* IX, is full big enough
for it^ i/^t t^9 big* The fhape of the fly is exaQly the f ami
*with that of the green^drake. So early in the year as February,
they nvill drop on the nvater before eight in the morning ; and
^foHts, of the largeji fi%ei as iMtll as fmcdl ones^ *Vifill rife at
ibem <vfry eagerly,
E c 2 calf,
.58 {Tie Complete ANottR. Fart It,
calf, which the lime will turn to be fo brighc
as to (hine like gold : for the wings of this fiy>
the feather of a brown hen is bed y which fly it
alfo taken till the tenth of Jfril
APRIL.
AU the fune hackles and flies that were takea
in Marcbi wiU be taken in this momh alio, with
this diftinftion only concerning the flies, that
all the brown« be lapt with red lllk» and the
duns with yellow.
I. To thefe a Smau. Bright BROwif, made
of fpaniers f urr, with a light grey wing ; in a bright
day, and a clear water, is very well taken.
a. We have too a little (5) Dark. Baovir^
>the dubbing of that colour, and fome violet cam-
let mixt, and the wing of a grey ficachex of a
mallard.
3. From the fixth of this month to the tenth,
we have alfo a fly caUed the Viol£T*Fly, made
pf a dark vblet ilufll^ with the wings of the grey
feather of a mallard*
4* About
VARIATIONS.
(5} Dajlk Bkown- Dub with the hair of a <lark hrowa
fpanieU or calf^ that looks ruddy by being, expoiedto^ wind
and weather, warp with yellow.
TaJt€nfr§m eight to ele^gn,
This is a goodfy^ and to he /(ten in mofi ri^ueri-i btufo *oa^
Tiahle in its hsu^ as the feafin ad^vancesi that it requires the.
do/eft. attentUm to the nettsiralfly^ to adapt the mattriaisfor,
mailing it artifidatly^i <which is al/e the cafe 'with the miolet o»
ajh-colowred dun. When this fy firft appears^ it is. nearly of
a chocolate colottr ; from ^which^ hy the middle of May, i^ has
heen ohfer*ved to deviate to almofi a lemon colour: northern
anglers call it^ hy way of eptineme^ the dark brown j ethers.
C?iap. VII. 51&eCoMPLETE Angler; S9
4. About the twelfth of thrs month comes in
the fly calFd the Whirling Dun (6), which is
taken every day about the mid- time of day all
this month through, and by fits from thence to •
the end of June, and is commonly made of the
down of a fox-cub, which is of an alh colour
at the roots, next the (kin; and ribbed abput
with yellow filk, the wings of the pale grey
feather of a mallard.
5. There is alfo a Yellow Dun (7), the
dubbing of camel's hair, and yellow camlet, or
wOol-tnixt, and a white grey wing.
6. There is alfo, this month, aaother Little' •
Brown, befides that mentioned before, made
with a (lender body, the dubbing of dark brown,
and violet camlet n^ixt, and a grey wing> which,
though the dire£tion for the making be near the
other, is yet another fly, and will take when the
other will not, efpecially in a bright day^ and a
dear wacer*
VARIATIONS.
taU k the four* winged brown : // has four wings tying fat
en its iackf /omitting ionger than the My^ nvbicb is longifi^
hut not taper ^ This fly muft hi made on ^ fmallifo bookf viz.
N*» 8, or 9.
^6) Little WHiRLiNaDun. The body fox-cub, and
a little light ruddy brown mixed, warp with grty or ruddy
filkb A red hackle under the wing ; wngof a land-rail, or
raddy brown chicken, which ts better.
A killing fy in a bhiftiring day^ as the great whirling dun
a in the evenings and late at night.
(7) Yellow Dun. Dub with a fmall quantity of pala
yellow crewel mixed with fox-cub down from the tail, and
warp with yellow ; wing of a paliih darling's feather*
Takinfrom eight toeUntiny and from t*wojofour,
?ee more of the Tellonv Dun in the Appendix, N^ Ilf .
E e 3 7. About
Co, Tie Complete ANCLEr. Bi^rt ^»;
7* About tliq twentieth of this month comes in
9 fly called theHoRSErFLESH Fly, the dgbbing.
of which is a blue mohair, with pink-coloured,,
and red tammy mixt, a light coloured wing, and
a dark brown head. This fly is taken beft in ati
evening, and kills from two hours before fun fef,
till twilight, and is taken the month through.
MAY.
' Apd now. Sir, that we are enterlf^ into tbC;
month of May, I think it reqqiGte to beg not.
o^ly your attention, but alfo your befl: patience |
for I mud now t^e a little tedious with, you, and
dwell upon tb;s month longer th^n ordinary ^
which that you may the better endure, I muft
tell you, this month deferve$ and requires to bp
infilled on -, forafmuch as it alone, and th<^ ce^C
following* afibrd more pleafure to tbp fly-
angler than all the reft : and here it is that yoUjt
are to exped: an account of the green-drake^ and
(lone-fly, prqmifed yoq fo long agQ, apd fomp
others that are peculiar to this month, and part
of the month following; and that, though not
fo great either in bulk or name, do yet (land in
competition with the two before named } and fo,
that it is yet undecided amongft the anglers, to,
which of the pretenders to the title of theil^*
fly, it does properly and duly belong ; neither
dare I, where fo many of the learned in this art
of angling are got in difpqte about the contro- '
verfy, take upon me to determipe ; but I think-
I ought to have a vote amongft them, and ac-'
<:ording tp that privilege, (hall give you 'my
free opinion ; and peradventure when I have told
5 ' ^ you
you all) fou may mcline to think mc in the
fighc.
^ Viat: Ihwtf^gTtat a deference to yourjudg--
ment in thefc niatters, that I rnuft always be of
jF^Ur Opinion ; and the more you Ipeak, the fafter-
I 'grow lb nny attentionf, for 1 can never be weary
<tf * bearing you upon this fubjeft.
• P^c Why that's encouragenient enough ;
and now prepare yourfelf for a tedious lefture ;
but I will firft begin with the flies of lefs efteem,
tlBKigh^almoft' any thing will take a Trout in
Majh that T^ttwty afterwards ' infift the longer
iljpdii thoft of ^greater ^ote and reputation ^
know therefore, that the firft fly we take notice
cf in this month, is called
I-. The Turkey-Fly, the dubbing ravelled
out 6( fome blue ftuff, and lapt about with yel-
to# filk, the wings of a grey mallard's feather.
/a. Next a 'Great Hackle, or Palmer-
Flv, with a Yellow Body ribbed with gold
twift, and large wings of a mallard's feather dyed
yellow, with a red capon^s hackle over all.
3. Then a Black Fly, the dubbing of a
bl&ck fpanid*s furr, and the wings of a grey
maUard'a feather.
4. After tljat a Light Brown with a flender
body, the dubbing twirled upon fmall red filk,^
and raifed with the point of a needle, that the
ribs or rows of Glk *may appear through iht
wings of the grey feather of a mallard.
5. Next a LixTLE Pun, the dubbing of a
bear's dun whirled upon yellow filk^ the wii^ga.
of the grey feather of a mallard.
6. Then a White Gnat, with a pale wing^
and a black head.
E c 4 7. There
dt 3'h Complete Anglir. Patrt If^r
7» There is alfo this month a Nfly called the^
Feacock-Fly, the body made of a whirl of
4 pe^Qck*s feather, with a^ed headi apd wings
ox 9 madlard's fe^thei;.
8. We have then aqother very killing 0y^
knowti by the name of the Dun-Cut (S)«the dub*
bing of which is a bear's dun, with a little blue
^nd yellow mixt with it, a large dun wing, and
two hprna at the hfad, oiadrof the hairs of t
fquirrers tail?
9. The next is the Cow-LADVt a Utdefly^
the bpdy of a peacock^s feather, the Wing (>f a.
red feather, or (trips of the red hackle of •
cock,
1 o. We have then the Cow-Dukg fly ; the
Rubbing li^ht brown and yellow, mixt, the wing
the dark grey feather of a mallard* And note,-
that befides thefe aboye-imntioned, all the fame;
hackles and flies, the hackles oqly bright^er,
a^nd ihe flies fmaller, that are taken in J^K
will alfo be taken this month, as alfo all browns
and duns ; and qow i come tQ my ftpne-fly, and •
green drake, which are the matadore^ fpr Tr<Qut
and Grayling, and in th^if feafon kill more fllh
in our Derbyjhire rivers, than all the reft paft,
and to cotpe, in (he whole year befides.
But l^rft I am to tell you, that we have four'
feveral flies which copteiid for the title of the
ik&jy-fly, naqicjy,
VARIATIONS.
* J . . . » *
(8) DuN-CvT. Dub with bcar's-cub furr, and a liuie*
jtllow and green crewel, warp with yellow or green ; y^iug
(^r a landrail. ^
' ^9Wi^4f fh ^V^ffg Sf ^Jk^wnyJ^ a great kilkr.
Chap.VIJt ^he Complete AscLEt, 6j
<r^^ Green-Drak)^,
^be STONE-Fty,
V^^ Black-Fly, and
The Little Yellow MAY-Fty.
f
And all thefe have their champions and
^voca^es to difpute and plead their priority,
though I do not underiland why the two laft
named fhould i tjb^ firft two having fo manifeftly
jhe advantage,' both in their beauty, and the
wonderful execution they do in their feafon*
11. Of thefe the Green-Drake comes in
gbout the twentieth of this month, or betwixt
tjh^t and the latter end ; for they are fometimef
fooner, and fometimes later, according to the
quality of the year ; but never well taken till
towards the end of this month, and the begin-
ning of June. The ftone-fly comes much
Iponer, fo early as the middle of Jpt-il j but is
never well taken till towards the middle of A&y,
and continues to kill much longer than the
green-drake days with us, fo long as to the end
almoft of Jun^ ; and indeed, fo long as there arc
any of thenf) to be fcen upon the water-, and fome-
times in an artificial fly, and late at night, or
tiefore fun-rife in a morning, longer.
Now both thefe flies, and 1 believe, many
others, though I think not all, are certainly and
cjemonftratjvely bred in the very rivers where
they are, taken; our cadis or cod- bait which
lie under ftones in the bottom of the water, moft
of them turning into thofe two flics, and being
gathered in the hufk, or crufl:, near the time of
•their maturity, are very cafily known and difl^n-
guithcd.
€4, Tbe Complete Angler. Patf ID
^uiflied, and are of all other the moft Remark-
able, both for their (ize, as being of all other
the biggeft, the fliorteft of thetn being a fuU
inch long, or niore ; and for the execHition they
do, tbe Trout and X^rayling bekig nnich more
greedy of them than of any others ^ and indeed
the Trout never feeds fat, n^r comes into hifi
perfcA feaibn, till thefe flies come in.
Of thefe the green^rake never dtfclofes from
bis hufk, t4U be be firft there grorwn to full ma-
turity^ body, wings, and all; and then he creeps
out of his cell, but with his wings fb crtnipt
and ruffled, by being preft together in that nar-
tow room, that they are, for fome hours, to-
tally ufele^ to him •, by which means be is com«
pelled either to creep upon the flags, fedges^
and blades of grafs, if his Brft rifing -^om the
bottom of the water be near the banks of the
river, till the air and fun ftifien and fmootk
them : or if hisfirft appearance above water hap-
pen to be in the middle, he then lies upon the
lurface of the water like a (hip at hull ; for his
ftet are totally ufelefs to him there, and he can-
not creep upon the water as the ftone-fly can^
Until his wings have got ftiffhefs to fly with, if
hy fome Trout or Grayling he be liot taken ia
the interim, which ten to brie he Is, and then
bis wings ftand high, and clofed* exaft upon
his back, like the butterfly, and his morion in
flying is the lame. His body is, in fomei of a
pakr, in others, of a darker y^How v fbr- they
are not all exaftly of a colour, ribbed with rows
of green, long, flender, and growing fliarp to-
wards the tail, at the end of which he ha^-Jthree
longimall wbiflcsof a vcry<iark colour, almofl:-
black,
r
Chap. yil. STit^ Complete ANGLEk. $§
black) and h}s tail turns ifp towards his back
like a mallard ; from M^bence, queftioiilefs, he
has his oamc of the grpen-drake. Thefe, as I
tbink I toki you before, we commonly dapc, or
4ibUe wkb, and having gath^ed great ftore of
them into 9 long^ draw?boXy with holes in the
jcpver t0 giw them air, where alfo they will con-^
tinue frew and vigorops a night or more, we
tf^p them out thenae by the wings, and bait
them thus upon the hook. We firft take one,
f(f>r ^c conwnonly fifli with two of them at a
tin)e, and, putting the poim of the hook into
tKe t^iicjceft part of his body under one of his
wings, run it direftJy through, and out at the*
othfr^fide, leaving him fpitted crofs upon the
hook, and then taking the other, put him on
afier the fame manner, but with his head the
contrary way ; in which pofture they will live
upon the hook, and play with their wings for a
quarter of aa hour or more : but you muft
have a care to keep their wings dry, both from
the water, and alfo that your fingers be not wet
whven you take them out to bait them, for then
ypUK bail is fpoiled.
Having now told you how to angle with this
fly alive, I am now to tell you next, how to
make an artifieial fly, that will fo perfcdly re-,
fcmble him, as to bje taken ia a rough windy day,
when no flies cln lie upon the water, nor arc
to be found about the banks and fides of the
river, to a wonder, and with which you fhall
certainly kill the beft Trout and Grayling in the
river.
The
€$ ^/CouptKTS AitfCLSn. Part It/
The artificial sreen-drake (9) cben, is made
upon a large hook, the dabbing, earners hair,
bright bear's hair, the ibfcdown that isxombed
£rotn a hog's brtftles, and yellow camlet well mixt
together, the body loog, and ribbed about with
green fiUct or rather yellow, waxed with greeii
wax, the whiflcs of the caili of the long hairs of
iables, or' fitchet, and the wings of the white*
grey feather of a mallard^ dyed ytUow, whiclr
alfo is to be dyed thus.
T'ake the root of a kartaty-tree, and fiave it^
sndput to ii woody vifs^ vntb as much allum as a
ivakui^ and boil your feathers in it with tain--
ivater^ and tbey will be of a very fine yellow.
. I have now done with the green -drake, ex-
cepting to tell you, that he is taken at ait hours
during his feafon, wbilft there is any day upon
the (ky ^ and with a made«fly I once took, ten
days after he was abfolutely gone, in a cloudy
day, after a (bower, and in a whiftling wind, five
and thirty very great Trouts and Graylings, be-
twixt five and eight of the clock in the evening*
and had no lefs than five or fix flies, with three
good hairs a piece, taken from me in defpite 0/
my hearty befides.
VARIATIONS.
(9) Greeic-Drake, or Mat-Fly. The body of fears
farr, or yellow mohRir, a little cob- fox down, and bog's
fvooU or light brown from a Tari^^carpet mixed, warp
with pale yellow, pale yellow or red cock's hackle ander
the wings ; win^s of a mallard's feather, dyed yellow^
three whiiks in.Jiis tail from a fable mnfF.
TaL/i uU dteff but <biiflyfr9m two t9f9»r in the aftirmon,
12. I
r
Chap* VIL ^nk QoMi^tzrz AnoitvL. Cf
12. I (bould now come Bext to the ftoiie-fly^
but there is anQiher gentlecpan in my way, that
inuft of neceflky come »n between, and that is
, the Grey-Drake, which in alb fliapes and dU
menfions is perfedly the fame with the other,
but qukc almoft of another colour, being of a
paler, and mpre Uvid yelk>w, and green, and
ribbed with black quite down his ^>dy, withk
I black ihining wings, and fo diaphanous abnd ten*
der, cob- web like, that they are of no manner
of We tor daping ; but conrre in, and are taken
after the green-drake, and in an artificial fly kill
very well, which fly is thus made Cio) -, the dub**
bing of the dawn of a bog's bridles, and black
fpanieUs furr, mixed, and ribbed down the body
with: black filk, the whiiks of the hairs of the
bcavd of a biack cat, and the wings of tke blact^
grey feather of a maUard^i
And now I come to the Stone-Fly, but
am afraid I have already wearied your patience ;
which if 1 have, I befeech you freely tell me foy
and I will defer the remaining inftrudlions for
fly-angling till fome other time.
ViaL No, truly. Sir, I can never be weary of
Ikcarijig you.: but if you think fit, becaufe I am
afraid I am too troublefome, to refrclh yourfelf^
with a glafsand a pipc^ you may afterwards^
proceed, and L (hall be cxcee^iingly pleafed to
hear you.
VARIATIONS,
(lo) Grbv"Drak£. The body of an abfelute whit^ oT*
trich feather ; jfhe end of the body towards the tail of pea-
cacfc^s herl ; warping of an afli-colour with filv^r twift and
black hackle, wing of a dark grey feather of a mallard. '
ji very killing fly^ efpedaily towards tht $<uenini^ iQhen th»
ftfif are glutted ^^uk. the grienrdr^^e*
Fife,
€i > >tbe CoiAt^tttt ANOLEa. Part 11;
Pift. I thank you, Sir, for that motion ; for
believe me I am dry mth talking : here, bey^
give us here a botde, dnd a glafs ; .and Sir^ mf
fervice to you, and to ^11 our friends in the South.
f^iai. Your fervant^ Sif, and 1*11 pledge yon
as heartily ; for the good powdered beef I eat
at dinner^ or fomething elfe^ has made me
thirfty.
CHAP. Vlli.
Viator.
SO, Sir, I arn now teady for smother le&nf;
fo foon as you pleafe to give it me.
Pifc. And I^ Sir^ as ready to give youl
the beft 1 can. Having tok! you the time of the
(cone fly's coming in, and that he is bred of ^
cadis, in the very river where he is taken^ I ant
next to teH you, . that,
I J. This fame ftone-By has. not the patience
to coiitinue in his cruft, or huik, till his wings b€
full grown i but fo foon as ever they begin to ptft
out, that he feels bimfelf ftrongy at which time we
call him a Jack, fqueezcs himfelf out of prifon,
and crawls to the top of fome ftone, where if h€
can ftnd a chink that will receive him, or can
creep betwixt two ftones, the one lying hollow
trpon the other, which, by the Way, we alfo lay
^ purpofely to find them, he there lurks till his
Wings be full grown, and there is your only place
to find him^ and from thence doubtlefs he derives
his
Chap« VIII. The Coup Li,Tz AngtLer. ^
bis name ; though^ibr want of fqch convenience^
^ he will make Ihifc with the hollow of a bank, or
apy other place where the wind cannot come to
fetch him* off. . His body is long, and pretty
thicki and as broad at the tail almoil as in thr
middle-, his colour a. very fine brown, ribbed
with yellow, and n>Mch yellower on the belly
than the back^ he has twoor three whilks alfo ac
^e tag of his tail^ and two little horns upon his*
head -, his wings, when^ f0ll grown, are doubW
and fi^ down his back, of the fame cok>ur, but
leather darker than his body,, and longer than it,^
though he makes but little ufe of them ; for you^
(hall rarely fee him flying,- though often fwim-
ining and padling with feveral feet he has under
his belly, upon the water, without ftirring »
wing : but th^ drak^c will mount lleeple higb
^to the air, though he is to be found upon flags
and grafs tooi Md. indeed every where high an(^
low^ near the river> there being fa many o£
isbem in their feafon, as were they not a very in*
ofienfive infeft, would look, like a plague ; and^
tjicfe drakes, fijice I forgot ta tell you before, I
will tell you here, are taken by (he fiQi to thac
incredible degree, i.hat> upon a calm day, yoji-
ffaall fee the ftilj deeps conunually all over circfts
by the fifties rifing, who will gorge thcmfelves^^^
with thofe Sies, till they purge J^gain out of
their gills V and the Trouts are ac that time la
l-ufty and llrong, that one of eight or ten
inches long, will then more ftruggle, and rug„
and more endanger your tackle, than one twice-
as big in winter: but pardon this digrefiioni
This ftone fly then, we dape or dibble
with, as wiih the drake, but with this difFc-
rence.
yo ^he CoMPLEtE Anglbr. ^artlli-
rence, that whereas the green-drake is cotnmoii
both to ftream and ftill, and co all hours of the dafi
we feldom dape with this but in the ftreams {fat
in a whiftiing wind a made- fly in the deep is
better) and rarely but early and late, it not being
fo proper for the mid -time of the day \ though
a great Grayling will then take it very well
in a (harp ftream, and here and there a Trout
coo : but much better towards eight, nine, ten,
or eleven of the clock at nighty at which time
alfo the beft B(h rife^ and the later the better^
provided you can fee your fly, and when you
cannot, a made -fly will murder, which is to be
made thus : the dubbing of bear's dun with a
tittle brown and yellow camlet very well mixed \
but fo placed that your fly may be more yelloW
on the belly and towards the tail underneath^
than in any other part, and you are to place two
or three hairs of a black cat's beard on the top
of the hook in your arming, fo as to be turned
up, when you warp on your dubbing, and to
lland almoft upright, a;nd ftaring one n-om ano-
ther ; and note that your fly is to be ribbed with
yellow filk, and the wiAgs long) and very large^
of the dark gtey feather of a mallard.
14. The next A%-8y is the Black-FlV^
made with a black body, of the whirl of ad
oftrtch'feather, ribbed with (ilver twid, and
the black hackle of a cock over all ; and is a
killing fly, but not co be named with either of
the other.
15. The laft Mayfly, that is of the four
pretenders, is the Little Yellow May-^
Fly, in (h^pe exadlly the fame with the green-
drake, but a very little one^ and of as brigiit a
yellow
Chup. VlUv 3^ COMPLBTE AkGLER. 7I
yellow as clafi be iecn, which is made of a bright
yellow camlet, and the wings of a white ^rey
teacher dyed yellow.
16. The laft fly for this month, and which
continues all June^ though ir comes in the middle
ofA£rf, isthe fly called the Camlet^Fly, in
ihape like a motht with fine diapered, or water
wings, and with which, as I told you before, I
fometimes ufed to dibble ^ and Grayling will
rife mightily at it. But the artificial fly, which
is only in ufe amongft our anglers, is made of a
dark brown fliining camlet, ribbed over with a
very fmall light green filk, the wings of the double
grey feather of a mallard ; and ^is a killing fly
tor fmall fifli, and lb much for Moj^.
JUNE.
Frpm the firfl: to the four and twentieth^ the
green-drake and ftone-fly are taken, as I told you
before.
1. From the twelfth to the four and twentieth
late at night, is taken a fly, called the Owl->
Fly (11), the dubbing of a white tweafeKs tail,
and a white grey wing.
2. We have then another dun, called the
Barm-Flv, from its yeafty colour, the dubbing
of the f urr of a yellow dua-cat, and a grey wing
o£ a mallard's feather.
VARIATIONS.
(11) WhiteMiller, or Owl-Fly. The body of
white oftrich her], whice hackle and filver twift, if y<(a
pleafe ; ^'vag of the white feather of a tame duck.
Taken fnu/u/t'/tt till ten at mghf^ andfr^m two to /bur im
the morhit^^
F f 3. W^
yz The Co^riif'M Aisi4iaii^ ^Wrfll
3. We have alfo a HacklA iiiritte a Pm^t
BoDVy whipt about with » md ca^olj^^ fe^hW.
4. As itlfo a GoLD-Twisi* tiAetttB witll i
purple body^ whipt about ifith 2l t^ C7tpttC%,
feather.
5. To thcfe we hai« this itioaih a F&asf^
FiY, the dubbing of a black fpaoiers forr, wtA
blue wool mixed, and a grejt win^.
6. Aifo another Ittde flefh^fiy, the body madt:
of the whirl of a peacoclc*i feather, and tbt
wings of the grey feather oi a drake.
7. We have then the Peacock- Fly, the
body and wing both made of the feather of &i^
bird.
8. There i$ alfo the flyingant, or Ant*Fl¥»
the dubbing of brown and red camlet mixed^
with a light grey wins.
9. We have Ukewife a Browk Gnat; witb
a very (lender body of brown and violet camlet
well mixed,' and a light grey wing.
I'D. And another little Black Gnat (12),.
the dubbing of black mohair, and a white gtcf
wing.
11. As alfo a G-RfiEN Grasshopper, the
dubbing of green and yellow wool mixed, ribbed
over vvith greea filk, and a red capon^s feaithcp
overall.
12. And laftly, a little Dim Gra^shopi^erV
the body (lender, made of a<)un camlet,, and a^
dun hackle at the top.
V A R I A T r O N &
(12) Black Gnat. The body extremely fma]^;, ofT
black mohair, fpaniers oi oftrich feather; wing of cjie
lighteft part of a flarfiog or mallard's feather.
A nfery. killing Jfp in an. evening f after ^ a Jboioir^ in r^^it
rivitfi Of /» Derby (2uro0r Wales.
5 m L Y.
Jt)LY.
f^irfl all the fmall flies t\^ wqre tafi^en, i^
^nift^i afe Mf^ taken vi ^bi& mcMotlv
r^ W» Myc tihefl^. the. QaAWG^f^f^ {^3k
llie 4«t)ili)»inig of oraiDge woqU. afi4 tl>ei wing of 9
black feather.
!• Alfo a little tVHitr DitM, the body made
of white mohair^ sind thtr wing^ blue^ of a he^
ron*s feathen
3, We have likc^i^ifir thi* 9W»tiv ? Vf^sp*
Fi^y^ rnndt^ eiiher qf ^ 4j|i?k l>Wwa c^Mbbing, or
(Ue ^e furf of a bl^k ca^^'s^ fia'^lv ribbed abouc
wi|h yftUo*^ fiJk^ «p4 the wing of thp jj«y fea-
ther of a mallard.
Hacki.«» t^ .bodjT «iwde qf thiBf whiU of 4
p«4Q0«k'$ fti^lhw, and 4 bt^ok HaqW?-ftati^^ oij
the top.
£. We have alfo a^other^ ms^d^ of a peacoqk's
whirt, withottt wing$.
I 6, Another fly aUo 13 taker) this rnoixih, called
the Shell- PL Y, the dubbing (^ yeUqw greet)
7^Af ^^^ ^^^ » liitte white hqg*s hair rjiixed,
which I <aU ihe palrB-dy» and dp belief H i{
tnkcn for a palm, th^t drops off thp willowy
into the water ; for this fly I have fecp Trout^
take little pieces of mqfst as they have fwam
V A R I A T 1 O N S.
r
^13) ORANOB-FtY. The body of raw orange (!l^, witB
a red or black hackle; gold twlft' n(ay be ddded^ ivar^
Vith orange.
7V^« ^hrt thi May- fly ii almofi onjer^ an^d a^fp t& tif ind
«/* June, e/pet tally //r hot gloomy 'weafhff,
F f 2 dbwa
^4 ^^^ COMPLYTB AhGLIB. FtttJR
down the rivir, by which I cooclude that the
beft way to hit the right colour, is to compare
your dubbing with the mols» and mix the a)lours
as near as you can*
7. There is alfo taken thts month, a Black
Blue Dxjn, the dubbing of the furr of a black
rabbet mixt with a little yellow, the wings of
the feather of a blue pigeon's wing.
AUGUST-
* The fame 'flies with Jufy.
1. Then another Ant -Fly, the dubbing of
the Uack brown hair of a cow, fbme red warpt
in for the tag of :his tail; and a dark wittg i a
killing fly.
2. l^ext a fly called the Perk-Fly, the dub-
bing df the furr of a bane's neck, that is of the
colour of fern,- or bracken, with a darkifh gre/
wing of a mallard's feather; a killer too«
3. Befides thcfe wc have a White Hackle^
the body of white mdiair, and warped aboup
with a white hackle -feather, and this is aflfuredlj^
tak^fif for thiAle^down.
^ 4. We have alfo this month a Harry -Long-
Leos (14), the body made of bear's dun, and
blue wool mixt, and a browa hackle-feather
over alL
VARIATIONS.
•
(14) Harry-Lohg-Lics. Made of ligfatiih bear's hah»>
and a dttnoifli hackle; add a few hairs of Tight blae mohair
and a little fox-cub down, warp with light grey or pak
blue iilk ; the bead large.
V Taken cbieflj in a cloudy wndy daj, I hai}e firnurhf^ im
the ri'vers near London » had great fuccefs^ Jifl^'i *with aHm^
lijUi and tU btad of tint infe^ wlj^
■ - Laftly,
Cb^VIIL f%r C6mi>»tb Akgier. 75
LafUy, In this inctoth all the fame browns and
duns ve cakeo^ that were taken in May.
SEPTEMBER.
»
TMs month the fame flies are taken^ that are*
taken in AfrU.
I. To which I (hall only add a Camel*
Bro^n f)y» the dubbing pulled out of the lime
of a wall, whipt about with red filk, and a
darkilh.grey nniallard^s feather for the wing.
; %» And one other for which we have no'
name; but it is made of the black hair of a
badger^s (kin^ miieed with the yeUow fofteft down
of afahded hog.
O C T O B E R.
The fame flies are taken this month, that
wem uken in March.
NOVEMBER.
The fame flies that were taken in Ftbruarf^
are taken this month alfo« .
. D E CEMBE R-
Few men angle with the fly idn moittht iia
more than th^ do va January t but yet, 'SP the
vreatber be warnu as llutve kiiowh it ibmeti£nes.
in my life so be, even in this cold ccNiintry^ wliett,
it is leaft exp^ed, then a brown that lodks red
In the hand, and yelldwifh betwixt ydur ieye anid|
cbe fun> will both ralie andkiU'lni d^ W»tt^^
F f 3 an*
hardly voMi a i|it|0% Isboiir *.
And now. Sir, I have done with Qy-fifliing^
or angling d$ the IfP^ jpxcrpcinc onpe more to
tell you, that pf all thefe, anp I have pamecf
wa a gmtamnyicill^gAie^ poli^ ure ]St tQ
pc compared wifh tftc draltc and ftOwe^y^ JMl
^ As the Jbnm>i|iffdireftba0 {Matioii only file i|iateiialf
for making the lev^rll .flies, tkttnltet mny yi$t^^t%ft
hoitk Ttrlrh Vffpca to-Aeif form and •£«»; Ili^l|e6^4[^ liiv^
ill Plrfte X^. gi}^tnthtf6HiMJkmBYitic^n64aft^'Un^
iamW^i M^i'fbt^^m^, ^ktjjfkmh %• «?? »l>^gw»-
^rake, la, the dup-c^t, 13, th^ iiawtlioffi-<9y» ^^ »4
%he ant-fly, 1 5. The twp firft are each 9 fpedei by i|fetf|
fhe third is a horned fly $ the ibiirth has hacklr uo^er hi|
wings ; and (he fifth, .fui ao|(«fliQi ef th^ ant*luod haiNT,
baa a large bottle-taij ; ana to oni^ or other of tbf;fe figfMrVit
it jsimagiuied ^11 .ftie^ are r9dacib|e.
"^^In adjafilii^ th^iriKfll^t 'fives, It miift'be'di«^nJipd4iM*eu
great diifHcuIty ; all that can be faU »» ^thM tte^tiW'Vl
apd 12, exhibit the uA^l fife of the palmer, the greets
^^ gr^^orake : -Fig. 1*, «|ay ttpf^^s a ip^men for 1110^
iies^ that are not diiS^a to l)e ttade hY^e i ^nd w^ien di«
redions are given to .make the fly fmall, tfip reader is tp con*
Hiler Fig. f±, ••# an ex^ple. ^mtumi^k^^tnOtii^ .too
fiiiaD. * ^ • -
^. . .
hriftle bent into a loop ^ and coficerfiingthf ft niffhpcU t)iere
m diftivnt opipioplt
Iconfcfs the latter, except fi>f fniall flies, leemi to.s^ei&g
fbore «ligibleivaj | and tt Has this advantage^ tlirir htiiiMei
I^Q to k^ep'your fiie|-in eTceUcnt order; ^td4lb^4iiilb,
fbiog fhem, aik^fi fp^cfcsfq^i^aiy^llmMl^dM loiipf/flfqn
a fioe-piec^ of cKjt^^^ of alMt ^feyjsiiJijBcW ^fif^f iff^
Itring alfo thercoi^ t)^1>pgb a large pin-bole, a very fi^aQ
^cket afparchment, with the name of the fly^#il(^tet>ait ;
^?^f ^^^f^t^^rto »ri?|, ai^ la^^qi H^i^ai^ (»>»*>^
C|i^« yin. 5?/ Complete A^jgiiu. 77
fpr mapy .and very jgrea,t fith j and yet there are
(Qjpfi days, that are by np^ means proper for the
^ort ; and in a cajnfi you (hall not have near f^
fnjflch foprt .eyen with daping, as in a whirling
i^jjc pt wind, for two re'aforis, jx>th becaufe y66
i^rc flpt fo cafily difcovercd by the fifb, jind .alfo
)^cauje there are then but few flies that can lie
won t^e water •, for where they have fo much
choice, you may cafiiy imagine tl;iey will not be fo
9^er and forward to .rife at a bait, chat both the
J^adpw pf ypur body, and that of your rx;^d, nay^
*of your very line, in a hot, calm day, will, in fpit^e
pf^y^vr bej^ caution^ render ftifpcfted tp them :
Jbja't even then in fwift ftreams, or by futing
^pw<n patiently behind a willow bu(h, you (hail
^^p.^iore execution, than at almoft any other tinie
p/ the year with afiy other fly ; though one niay
jpi^e.tiimes hit pf a day, when be (hall cpme horrve
Ivery well fetisfied with fpqrt with feveral other
Sites : but with thefe two, the green-drake and
jthc flx)nerSy, 1 do ycrily be^eve I could fqmc
^4ay9 in my jife^ had J not been weary of flaugh*
^ter,ibaye Ipadenal^fty boy ; and have fometimes
fl ^o 'honeftly .jnfiure you, given over upon the
'^mere account of fatiety of fportj which will
l^terPQjiacd'fisatcer to belieye, when I likewtie
•^
^pv^ paper fbftw^etn ^ch ring ; and when yoa afe thenif
*ii«ving a-ncatloo^ at tha lowar end of yoar hook-link» yon
'^ay pfit««hein on and take them oiFat ple&fare.
is- the other way, yon are troabled with a great lei^th of
tltoek'^lHAk, whkh, if you pat even hot few flies together,
e'as'fore to taogle, and occafioa great trooble aad Tofs of
* time. And a$4o an objedion which fome make to a loop,
• tliat the*^fi(h iee it, and therefore will not take the fly, yo«
inay be afforcd there is nothing in it*
F f 4 aflure
78 The CoKtPtETE Akgleii; Part Itl
aflure you, that with this very fly» I have ia
this very river that runs by us, in three or fouf
hours taken thirty, five and thirty, and forty of
the beft Trouts in the river. What (hatne and
pity is it then, that fuch a river fliould be deftroy*
cd by the bafeft fort of people, by thofe unlaws
fill ways of fire and netting in the night, and of
damming, groping, fpearing, hanging and hook-
ing by day ; which are now grown to common^
that, though we have very good laws to punifh
fuch ofienders, every rafcal does it, for aught
I fee, impune.
To conclude, I cannot now in honefty but
frankly tell you, that many of thefe flics I have
named, at leaft fo made as we make them here»
will peradventure do you no great fervice in your
foutbem rivers • \ and will not conceal from you»
but that I have fent flies to feveral friends in I/m^
don^ that for aught I could ever hear, never did
* The reader may depend oo this lift of flies, and reft
afliiredt that with (bme or other of thefe flies, efpedally
with the valmers or hackles* die great dnn, dark browtt»
early and late bright biowii, the Uack gnat, yellow duo,
great whirling dun, dun-cat, green» and grey drake,
camlet'fly, tow-dung-fiy, little ant-fly, badger-fly, and
fern-fly, he fliall catch Tront, Grayling, Chbb and Dace»
in any water in EnglanJ or fTalis i-jlIwzjs refflemt)ering»
that, in a flrange water, he firft tries the plain, gold*
filrer, and peacock-hackle : ofthetrnthof this he need
not donbt, when he is told, that, in the year 1754$ a
gentlettao, now living, who went into Wabs to fifli with
the flies abbve-mentioned, made as above is dtreded by
Mr. Hirrj^ before-mentioned, did, in about &x weeks time,
kill near a thoufand brace of Trout and Grayling, as ap«
peared to him by an account, in writing, which he kept
of each day's fuccefs«
Cfcap. IX. fhe Com PLtTs ANottk; y^
mny great feats with them^t and therefore if you
intend to profit by my inftruftions, you muft
come to angle with me here in the Peak ; and
fo, if you pleafe^ let us walk up to fuppers and
to-morrow, if the day be windy» at our daya
liere commonly are, 'tis ten to one but we (hall
take a good dtlh of fifli for dinner.
^m
C HA P. IX.
P I S C A T O R.
AGOOD day to you, Sir; I fee you wiU^
always be ftirring before me.
yiaf. Why, to tell you the truth, I am
fo allured with the (port I had yefterday, that
I long to be at the river again i and when I heard
the wind fing in my chamber window, could
'{brbear no longer, but leap out of bed, and had
juft made an end of drefling myfelf, as you
came in.
Pifc. Well, I am both glad you are fo ready
for the day, and that the day is fo fit for you ;
and look you, I have made you three or four flies
this morning \ this filver-twift hackle, this bear's
dun, this li^bt brown, and this dark brown, any
of which I dare fay will do ; but you may try
them all, and fee which does beft ; only I mu^
a(k your pardon, that I cannot wait upon you this
morning, a little bufinefs being fallen out, that
, for two or three hours, will deprive me of your
company : but I'll come and call you home to
dinner, and my man (hall attend you.
Fiat.
ySmt. Qh J Sir, mind jrpur jiflfairs by aU jtniran^
480 but lend me a lUUe of 31O11 dull to thde fm^
fiics, and unlefs k fa^ve forfakea iqc iiocc ^fif-
<ctday« J (hajl 6ad iuck of my o^n I hope to ^
jToraethioji.
i^i/f. Xlie bcft inftcuSioii J .«» giw ypyi, y
that, feeing the wind curls thejprater, and.hlowjt
the right way, you would now angle up the ftift
ilreatns are, you would find it^ now coo brifk i
and befides, I would have you )ake fi& in both
waters.
l^iat. rU obey your direfiiion, and fo a good
(maroti^ :tP yop. Come, ypung inan, jet you
and I walk logecber. &m burk y<>u, Skj I have
ifi^c dpne w'nh you yet ; I t^^ptft another lefibn
49f angling at thefbottgod, inrtbe f^^ermon.
P.ifc. Well, Sir, rU^bieMa^y for you.
C « iL P. X.
i
lP.f:5Cia<T0lR.
OH ! 5ir, ,arc ^.ou xeium'd ? you,ha«e but
juft poevonieame. J yuias cpoiii^g.to.ca)!
you.
Fiaf. I am ^Ud fthep.I^bavje J&vted you ^
labour.
,Pifc. .And hawbaveypu lEped?
^;W. you Ihall fee that. Sir, pnefcntly ^; Jook
- i. . ,., y^"» Sir, hercarc.thrce *,b5*ce^^
^^^ -^ but one, that ever I kill d .with. a
fly in my life i and yet 1 loft a
bigger
/
>
bigger than tbat> witb 407 ily t^ boot^ und^btre
are |hree Graylings^ aua one of them longer b^
^036 inches than cbat I took yederday^ and yet
|[.^li0irgbi: thit ti .good one too.
IB^tJc. Why JE0U liavc nwde 4 pretty good
fnorning^s work on*t \ and now, Sir, what th^
^u of our river Pw^/
. 7^/^. I tVmk it DO be the heft T<raut«iihrer in
England I gnd am .foi9r in love wichit, that if it
iReremine, and that I oould Jceqp ittp myfetf, I
would not ca(i:hai^ that water,, /or aU the land
\i runs ovei^ to be tiiiaUy debarred frooi it,
. P^f. TJ^at cQtx^Uwcot $0 xbc river, fpe^ks
jsouia true4oyer ^f the art of angling : 4ind npw^
$ir9 10 make part of amends tor fending youifo
unpiviDy ^Q^l ^lone thi^ nK)rmng, I will my(c\f
dcels you t;hi$ difb of ,fi0i fqr your dinner.; waUt
butintO'the pariour, y,au wiU>6nd one bookxir
other in «the window to entertain you the while*
and you IhaU have it p refently.
yiaf. Weil^ir» i abc;y yxxu*
^ Fiji. Look yoUi Sir, have I not made ha&e ?
yiaL ^Believe me Sir, that you have ; and it
looks jb well, I Joi^g .to bei at it.
' JP//J-. JRall too .then ^ now^ Sir, what lay :yQife
^ I a, tolerable cook or no?
Fiai. So good a one, that I did never eat fo
good fifh in my life. This fifti is infinitely
better than any I ever lafted of the kind in m/
)lfe; 'ids quite s^nother thing, than our Trouts
P\fc. You would fay fo, if that Trout you.
eatof were in rjght feafon : but pray eat of the'
(grayling, which upon my word, at this timet is.
by mwchtbebftterflflj-
ViaU
St fhi CouTttrt AvotnV: Ptftlf.
Fiat. In earneft, and fb it is : and I have one
fequcft to make to you, which is, that as you*
Kavc taught me to catch Trout and Grayling,
you will now teach me how to drefs them as thefts
are ifareft, which queftioolefs is of all other the
beft way.
Pifc. That I will Sir, with all my heart, and
am glad you like them fo well as to make that
lequeft, and they are dreft thus.
Take your Trout, wafh, and dry him with «'
dean napkin ; then open him, and having taken
out his guts, and all the blood, wipe him very
dean within, but wafti him not^ and give him
three fcotchc^ with a knife to the bone, on one fide
only. After which take a clean kettle, and put
in as much hard ftale beer, (but it mufli not be
dead) vinegar, and a little white wine and water,
ai^ vriil cover the (i(h you intend to boil ; then
throw into the liquot* a good quantity of fsdt, the
riad of a lemon, a handful of diced horfe-radiih-'
root, with a handfome little faggot of rofemary,
thyme, and winter-favory. Then tet yourkettle
upon a quick fire of wood, and let your liqoof
boil up to the height before you put in your fifli;'
and then, if there be many, put them in one by
one, that they may not fo cool the liquor as to-
make it fall ; and whilft your fifhis boding, beat
up the butter for your fauce with a ladle-niU or
two of the liquor it is boiling in, and being
boiled, enough, immediately pour the licpior
from the fifh, and being laid in a difli, pour your
butter upon it, and ftrewing it plentifully over
with fhaved horfe-radifh, and a little pounded
ginger, garnifh your fidesof your difh, andihe fiOi
itfeU with a diced lemon ortwo, andiferve it up.
A
. A Grayling is aUb to be dreft exactly afttf the
fiune tmuiner, faving that he is to be fcaled^
iifiucb a Trout never is r and that muft be done
• lek^f with one*s nails, or very lightly and care-
fviUy wkh a knife, for fear of bruifing the BQau
And note, that thefe kinds of fi(h, a Trout eipe?
^iallyi if he is not eaten within four or five hours
.alter he be taken, is worth nothing*
But come. Sir, I fee you have dined, and there-
fore if you pleafe, we will walk down again to
the little houfe, and there I wiU read you a
ledure of angling at the bottom^i
t^^m^^^mmmammmmmm^mmm
\ .
C H A P. XI.
V lATQK.
SO, Sh*^ OQW we are here, and fet, let mp
have my inftruftions for aogkog for Trout
and Grayling at the bo^om ; which thougfi
not fo cafy, fo cleaniy, ^or, ars 'cis CAid, (o gcn-^
feel a way of filhing as with a By, is yet, if I
m'^bdce not, a good holding way, and takes fifli
when nothing elfe will.
Fife* You arc « the right, it does fo r and a
worm is fofure a bait atall times, that, exc^ptr
ing in a flood, I would I had laid a thoufaoct
l^ndft that I killed fitb, more or lefs with it«
wincer or Aimmer, every day throughout tim
year I chofe days always excepted, that, uponar
more ferious account always ought ib to be. But
not longer to delay you, I will begin, and teli
you, that angling at the bottom is alio eom^
Inonly c^ two ibrts ; and yet there is a third way
ef angling with a ground- bait, and to vrry
' great
• t
$4 ^^ Co M nttt Asxit tti, fat IC
great cflTeA too* as fliaH be faid befi6after|
namely, by hand, or with a cork or flbae.
That we call angliitg by band hofthricfbtiii
The firftr with a line about half Ae leAgf^ df
the rod, a good weighty plum, and three h»ra
iieirt the ho^, which' we call^a running line, and
with one large brandlings or a dew* worm ei i
moderate fize, or two finaH Ones of the firft, oif
isiny other fort, proper for a Tnout, of which my
father P^alton has ahrady given you the name^i
tnd faved me 'a labour ; or indeed, almoft any
worm whatevcf; for if a Traut be in thehti*
jnour to bite, it muft be fuch a worm as I never
yet faw, that he will refufe ; and if you fi(h
with two, you are then tx> bait your hook thus.
You are firft to run the point of your hook in
at the very head of your nrft worm, and fo down
<h!t>u|^ his body, tiM it be paft Che knot, and
then let it our^ «iid (trip the worm above th«
armidg, that you may not brutfe it with your
fingers tiH you have pm on the other, by^running
fhe point of the hook in bek>w the knot, and
tipwards through hi$ body towards his headr till
It be but juft covered with the head ; which be»
ing done, you are then to flip the &ft worm
down o\tr the arming again, till the knots of
both worms meet together.
The fecond way of angling by hand, and
with a running line, is with a line fomething
Ipnger than the former, and with tadcte mode
ait^r this fame manner. At tlie utnu>(t e3gti*emitf
^ your line, where the hook is iriways placed
in all other ways of angling, you are to have a
large piftol, or carbine bullet, into which' the
cspd of your line is to be faftcned With a peg* or
"pin,
tiiti^ even in6: cloft witfr tbe bollet, and s^dtft
to
i fbot abdve tk^rt, st htmtk of Knt, of
two Or tfStree ftatidfub femg^ or more, for ft
IWift ftrtafitt,. with a: hook ace tbe end therettft.
baited with fetbe of the fytcn^trnd wormsr, ^df
^Ktxothef half i^ aboi«rchat, fttiothet, arnted ami
baked afur the" fame rmtfiner v but md^ another
Ibtt of womrr, withotat Mj lead at 2A\ abow t
ht which cneaas yon wiR always eertatiily findi
the true botttom m all depthsr, whidi whfr tht
{iltrttts Upon yocrr Hne aijove yoo ean never d6^
but that ^otsrr bait rtitlf[ alwap drag whilft' yon
ai^e fotmdiiigy which in Ais way c^ atiglfng
muft be ccintiAually, by >*hidh mtam you atij
Kke (!o have ffione trouble, and ^vttdventut^
Wbtfe foceefe. And both thcfe ^^p ctf angUtfg
M the bottbm are moff proper for a dark and
inuddy water, by rcafon that in focha cbriditi<3ii
of the' Utttzmj a man ttiay tfand- ai /lear as* ht
Wifl^ ai<d rieiriicf hisr own Ihldbw, noi^thermiitd-
neft of hi$ tackle, wiH hlndef his fport.
Irhe ttHrd way of angling by hand wich a^
^rourtd-balr, itid by much the beft of all other^
k, with a lifae f\llL as long, dr a jfard and a half
kmget than yoW rod, with no morfe than one
hair rie^t tht hObk, tod f(^ two or tbreeJeDgihs:
above it, find no rtlore than one finall peUec oi
(hot for your pium, your hook little, your worms
of the fmaller brandlings very well fcoured, and
onlyoAe fibOrt your hook at a time, which is
IhiSfs to be baked. The point of yo^ir hook i$.
Ito be put in at the vety tag. of his tail, and run
tjp his body quire oVier all the arming, andftill
ftrrpt on an irtch at Icaft upon' the hair, the
hifead and tertvafning pan hanging downward j. .
and
$6 ^be CoMFtZTB Akclyr. Paitlt
and with this line and book thus baited^ you are
evermore to angle ia the ftreams^ always in a
clear rather than a tfx>ubled wa£er» and always
tip the river \ ftiU cafting Out your worm before
you with a light one«banded rod, like an artificial
fly» where it will be taken, ibmetimes at the
top, or within a very little of the fuperficies of
the water, and almoft always before that light
plum can fink it to the bottom ; both by reafoa
qf the ftream, and alfo that you muft always
keep your worm in motion by drawing fi:ill back
towards you, as ^ you were angling with a fly ;
and believe me, whoever will try it, fiiall find
this the befl: way of all other to angle with a
worm, \fi a bright water efpecially ; but then
liis rod muft be very light and pliant, and very
true and finely made, which with a fkilful hand
will do wonders, and in a clear ftream is un-
doubtedly the bell way of angling for a Trout
or Grayling with a worm, by many degrees,
that any man can make choice of, and of moft
eafe and delight to the angler. To which let
me add, that if the angler be of a conftitution
that will fuffic him to wad^ and will flip into
the tail of a (hallow ftream, to the calf of the
leg or the knee, and fo keep oflT the bank, he
Ihall almofl take what fi(h he pkafea^
The fecond way of angling at the bottom is
with a cork or float ; and tnat is alfo. of two
forts > with a worm, or with a grub or cadis*
With a worm you are to have your line withip
a foot, or a foot and a half as long as your lod ;
in a dark water, with two, or if you will with,
three ; • but in a clear water never with above
one hair next the hook^ and two or three for
four
t^hap.^i. TbH CoMPLSTt AKfiLSttl if
four or five IcDgthi above it^ and a worm t>^
what fize you pleafe^ ybur plums fitted c^your*
cork, your cork to the conditioh of the river^
that is^ to the fwiftnefs or Qownefs of it $ ^nd
both, when the water is very eleair/ as fine a^
you can ; and then you are never to bait witll ,
i^Dove one of the kfler fort of brandlings i or^ if
they are very little Ones indeed^ you may then bait
with twoj after the tnanner before dircftedi
When you angle for a Trout, you irt to dd
it as deep, that is, as near the bottom as you
can, provided your bait do not drag ; or if it do^
a Trout will fpmetimes take -it in that pofture:
if for a Grayling, you are then to fi(h further
£rom the bottom, he being a fi(h that ufually
iwims nearer to the middle of the wattr, and
lies always loofe; or however is more apt to
rile than a Trout^ and more inclined to rife thail
to defcend even to a ground-bait.
With a grub or cadis^ you ard ta angb with
the fame length of line ; or if it be all out as
long as your rod^ 'tis not the wdrfe^ with never
above one haif fdr t#o or three letigttis litxt the
Jhook^ arid with the fmalltft cork^ or floaty and the
lead weight of plum you can tl^at will but (inki
and that the fwiftnefs of your fticam wiil allow i
which alfo you may help, add avoid the violence
of the current, by angling id the returns df a
ftreams or the eddies betwixt two (ifeamSi Which
alfo are the mod likely places wherein td kill a
jifh in a ftrcam, either at the top or bdttqm.
Of grubs for a Orayling, the adi-grub,. which
is plumpi milk-white, bent round from head to
taiU and exceeding tender, with a red he^d i or
the dock-wormi or grub of a pale yellow, longeri
G g ianker^
St 9'hi Coitfttrt AvUtfi. KnS;
linker, and toogher than the other, with nmi
ol feet all down his belly, and a red head tifOf
are the befl*, I fay for a Grayling % becaufe, tin
though a Trotit will odce both thefe, the sA-
grub efpeciaUy, yet he doea not do it fo fieely a^
the other, and 1 have ufuaUy taken ten Gray^
lings for one Trout with that bait ;. though if m
Trout come, I have obTervtd^ thai he ia com-^'
monly a very good one.
Tbefe b»ts we oftially keep in bran^ in which
an aih«grub commonly grows tougher, and wiU
better endure baiting v though he is^ yet fo tcnder^^
fhat it will be nece&ry to^warp in a piece of
a fiiff hair with your armings leaving nt ftaad--
ing out about a ftraw4ireadth at the had of your
hook, fb as to' keep the grub eitkev from- flip-'
ping totally off when baited^ or at feaft down io^
the point of the hook, by which means youti
armme wilt be left whoUy naked and bare, whidi
is neither fo fightly, nor fo likely to be taken.^
though to help that, which willf luiwevtv v^
oft faU out^ I always arm the hook 1 defign fo#
this bait with the whtteft horfe-hair I can etlo^»
which itfdf will refemble, and Aine l)k« t4iafS
bait, and confequently will da more good, ot
leis harm than an arming of any other edour.
Thefe grubs are to be biuted thus ; tbe ho^ i^
to be put in under the head or chaps of the bait,,
and guided down the middle of the belly with^
out fuffering it to peep out by the way v for then-
the alh-grub efpeciaUy will iflue out water and
milk, till nothing but the fkin (halt remain, and
the bend of the hook will appear black throi^lt^
it, tilkthe poincjof your hook come fo low that '
the head df your ba^niay t^, and ftick upoo*
• 5 fih^
tfie, fiaif that fhnds otit to hold it ^ by wtitchf-
iftcatrt it daft ndthef flip of itfelf, ncithtff wiK
the tofce of the ftreartii nor cjuick pulling otrt^
upon any miftake, ftrip it off.
N^ow tfle cacfis, or cod-bait^ wMch h t fttre
kilfiftg btit, amf for tfic moft paft, by muctr^
farcr than cither of the othef, rftaty b6 put
upon the hook^ two or three together^ ind is
fomctinteSj to very great eflfe^l, ioJned to a worm,
and forftetirfies to an afrtificia! f!y to cdvet the
point of the hook ; but is always to be angfcd
with at the bottonr, when by itfelf cfpeciaHyt
with the ftneft tackle v arid is for all times of the
yeaT» the moft holding bait of all other what-
ever, both for Tront and Grayling.
'There are fcveral other baits bcfid^s thefe kit
1 have named.you, whfch aHb do very grtfat
execution at the bottom, and fome that are pe^
culiar to certain countries and rivers, of whi^h
every angtcr may in hw own placctiiake his tjwrr
obfervation *, and fome others that I do not think
fit to put you in mind of, becaufe I would not
corrupt you, and would have you, as in all things
clfe I obferve you w^be," aVefy hone ft gentleman^
a fair anglen And fo much for the fecond fort^
of angling for a Trout at the bottom.
Vraf. Bur, Sir, I bcfeech you give me leave t<|
alk you one queftion, Is there no art to be ufed to
li^orms, to make them allure the fllh, and in a
manner^ to compel them* to bite at the bait ?
Fife, ffot that 1 knoiwr of; or did I know afhy
fnch fecret, I would not tife it myfelf, zrtd there-
fore would not teach it you; Thoi^ t will not
deny to you, that in my younger cuys, I htvc?
made trial of oil ef ol^ray, oil of ivy, cartiphire,
G g 2 air^"*
90 The Cou^tftz Anottx. ParllLt.
afla-feetida) juice of nettles, and feveral other
devicet that I was taught by (everal anglers I
met with, but could never find any advanuge
by them, and can fcarce believe there is any
thing to be done that way ; though I mud tell
you I have feen fome men^ who I thought went
to work no more artificially than I, and have
yet with the fame kind of worms I had, in my
own fight taken five, and fometimes ten for one.
But we'll let that bufinefs alone, if you plcafe ^
and becaufe we have time enough, and that I
would deliver you from the trouble of any more
le Aures, I will, if you pleafe, proceed to the lad
way of angling for a Trout or Grayling, which
is in dMT middl% after which, I fball have no more .
to^lifble you' with.
. Tis no trouble. Sir, but the greated
fadion that can be, and I attend you.
CHAP. XII.
P 1 S C A T O K.
ANGLING in the middle then, for a
Trout or Grayling, is of two forts ^
with a pink or minnow for a Trout, or
wkh a worm, grub, or cadis for a Grayling.
For the firft, it is with a minnow half a foot,
or a foot within the fuperficies of the water ^ and
as to the reft that concerns this fort of angling,
I Jhall wholly refer you to Mr. fPallof^s dirc&ion^
who is undoubtedly the bed angler with a min-
now in England I only in plain truth I do not ap-
6 prove
Chap. XII. J'fo CoMPLBTi Anglsr: ^T
prove of thofe baits he keeps infalt, unlefs where
the living ones are not poflibly to be had ; though
1 know be frequently kills with them, and perad-
venture more, than with anj other; nay, I have
it^en him refufe a living one for one of them, and
much lefs of his artificial one; for though we
do it with a counterfeit fly, methinks it fhould
hardly be cxpefted, that a man (hould deceive a
fi(h with a counterfeit fi(h. Which having faid,
I (hall only add^ and that out of my own expe-
rience, that I do believe a bull-head, with his
gill-fins cut ofi^, at fome times of the year efpe-
Cially, to be a much better bait for a Trout than
jx minnow, and a loach much better than that ;
to prove which, 1 Ihall only tell you, that I have
much oftener taken Trouts with a bull-head or
a loach in their throats, for there a Trout has
queftionlels his firft digeftion, than a minnow $
and that one day efpecially, having angled a
^ood part of the day with a minnow, and that
in as hopeful a day, and as fit a water, as could
be wifht for that purpofe, without railing any
one fifh ; I at lafl: fell to it with the worm, and
with that took fourteen in a very (hort fpace ;
amongft all which, there was not to my remem-
brance, fo much as one, that had not a loach
or two, and fome of them three, four, five, and
fix loaches, in his throat and ftoniach ; from
whence 1 concluded, that had I angled with that
bait, I had made a notable day's work of it.
But after all, there is a better way of angling
with a minnow, than perhaps is fit either to teach'
or to pradlife; to which I (hall only add, that
a Grayling will certainly rife at, and fometimes
take a minnow, though it will be hard to be be-
G g ^ licved
jkve^ hy any ene^ who A^H cQQfidtr the little-
licfs of that fi0i's mouth, very unQt to Jtuke fo
great a bait : but is affirmed by many, that ^9
will fometimes dp it -, and I piyfelf know it to
\)C true i for though I iiever to<^ ^ QrayUng fc^
yet a m^n pf mine once didy and within fo few
paces of nne, that I am as cenain pf it, as I
can be of any thing I did not fee, which m^de it
appear the noore (Irange ; the Gr^j^Ung was not
above eleven inches long.
I muQ: here alfo beg leave of your mafter^ wd
mine, not to controvert, but to tell him, that I
cannot coafent to his way of throwing in his rod
f o an overgrown Trout, and afterwards reCQVi^rr
ing his fi(h with his tackle. For though I am
fatisfied he has fometimes done it, becaujiir he
fays (o^ yet t have found it quite otberwife ; and
though I h^ve taken with the angle, I majr
faftly fay, Um\^ thoufands of T^puts in rny life,|
my top never fhapt, though my lin^ ftill jconti*
Dued fail to the remaining part of my rod^ by
f^me lengths pf line curled roi^nd about my top^
and there fad^ned with waxt Gll^, 9gaii|(l: fuch m
accident ; nor my hand never flackt, or flipt by
any other chance, but I alrnoft alway$ infallibly
iioft my fiQi* whether great or liitle, though my
hook came home again. And I have often won^
dered how a Trout fliould fo fuddenly difengag^
himfelf from fo great a hook, as that we bait
with a minnow, and (b deep bearded, as thofe
books commonly are \ when I hav^ feen by the
forenamed accidents, or the flipping of a knot
in the upper part of the line, by fudden and
hard ftriking, that though the line has immedi-
gtely been recovered, almoft before it could beal|
drawn
Chap. 3tn. Ti^CouPLETE AnGisR. ^3
.drawn into the water, the fifli cleared, and gone
m a moment. And yet to juflify what h^ fays,
I have fometimes known a Trout, having carried
away a whole line, found dead, three or four
days after, with the hook fall (licking in him :
but then it is to be fuppofed he had gorged i^
which a Trout wiU do, if you be not too quicjc
with him when he comes at a minnow, as fure
and much fooner than a Pikej; and I myielf
have alfo, once or twice in my life, taken the
iame fiib with my own fly flicking in his chaps,
th^t he bad taken from me the day before, by
the flipping of A hook in the armings but I am
very confident a Trout will not be troubled
two hours with any hook, that has (o much ^s
one b.andful of line left behind with it, or that
is not fl:ruck through a bone, if it be in any
oart of h\s mouth onlv i nay, I do certainty
*now, that a Trout, fo iooo as ever he feels hino-
felf prickt, if he carrios away the hoojc, goes
immediately to the botton^, and will there root
like a hog ^ipon.the gravel, till he either rub Qut«
,or break the hook in the middle. Apd fo much
^ for this firfl fort of angling in the middle for a
Trout.
The fecond way of angling in the middle, is
with a worm, grub, cadis, or any other ground-
bait for a Grayling ; and that is with a cork, and
a foot from the bottom, a Grayling taking it
much better there than at the bottom, as has
been faid before ; and this always in a clear water,
and with the fined tackle.
To which we may alfo, and with very good
reafon, add the third way of angling by hand
with a ground bait, as a third way ax fifliing in
G g 4 the
r
P4 The CoMrLBTE Anolsr. Parti!,
^he middle, which is common to both Trout
and Grayling, and as I faid before, the beft wa^
of angling; with a worm, of all Other I ever tried
whatever.
And now. Sir, I have fejd ^11 I can at prefcnt
think of concerning angling for a Trout aiid
Grafting, and I doubt not have tired you fuffl-
ciencly ; but I will give you no more trouble of
this kind, whilfl: yoi| Hay, which 1 hope will i^
fi good while longeri
Fiat. That will not be abovf a day longer j
but if I live till Af^y come twelvc-nionth, you
arc fure of me again, either with my maltJcr
Walton^ or without him ; and in the mean tinie
JThall acquaint him how nouch you have made of
me for his fake, and I hope he loves me well
enough to thank you for It.
Pifc. I (hall be glad. Sir, of ypurgood com*
pany at the titne you fpeak of, and (hall be loath
to part with you now ; but when you tell me you
fiiuft go, I will then wait upon you more mile$
on your way, thao I have tempted you out of ii^
^nci heartily v?i(h you a good journey.
v.-
h
[95 3
ir
■»■»—— I !■■■ ■■ ■ — ^^>M^M»»^P— »l*iM<>
-»m»mmim^m»m.^m^^mtUmJi^>^^^>!^fi^m^mml^tim^i
A SHORT
DISCOURSE
? Y WAY OP
POSTSCRIPT,
TOUCHING THZ
LAWS of ANGLING*.
My good Friend,
I Cannot but tender my particular thanks to
you, for that you have been pleafed by three
editions of your Complete Angler, freely
to difpenfe your dear-bought experiences to all
the lovers of that art ; and have thereby fo excel*
lently vindicated the legality thereof, as to divine
approbation, that if I Ibould go about to fay more
in that behalf, it indeed were to light a candle
to the fun. But fince all pleafures (though never
fo innocent in themfelves) lofe that damp, when
they arc either purfued with inordinate affedltons,
or to the prejudice of another; therefore as
* This Difcoarfe was firftpubliOied with» and was printed
at the end of the Third Edition ofJTaitoHh book ; *but, as
the fabjefl matter of it does as well relate to Cotton^ fecond
part as to the other, it was thought proper to tranipofe \u
to
%
^ ritf LA WS ^ Anolimc^
to the former, every man ougjbt to endeavour,
throvigh a fcrious confidetatrOn pf the vjinity of
ivorldty contentments, to moderate his affedions
tHereunto, whereby they may be made of excel-
lent ufe, as fome poiibns allayed are in phyfick :
:ind as to the latter, we are to have recourfe to
the known laws, ignorance wheretrf excufe^i no
hian, and therefore oy their directions fo to fquarc
cur adlions, that we hurt no man, but keep clofe
CO that golden rule. To do to all men, as we
wpqid Qurfclves be done uptOt
yiow jconceraitig the Art of Angling, we may
conclude. Sir, that as you have proved it to be of
great antiqu^yj fol ^d it/awured by the laws
of this kingdom ; for where provifion is made by
•ur Statute prim Bltza^. cap. \ 7. againtl cakiqg
fi(h by nets that be not of fuch and fuch a fize
there fet down, yet, thofe law- makers had fomuch
refpeft to anglers, as to es^cept them \ and leave
them at liberty fo catch as big as they could, and
* as little, as they wogld c^ch. And .yet though
(his Apoftolical recreatioa be fimply in itfdf Is^-
f oK y^t no man can go uppn another man's ground
to fim, wifhoiK his licence, but that he is a trrf-
pafler ; but if a oian have liqence to enter into.a
eiofc or ground for fuch a ^ace of timq, there
though he praftife angling all that time, he is
not a trefpafler, becau^ his (ifting is qo abufe
of his licence: but this b to.bc underftoqd pf
Tunning ftreams, and not of ponds or Handing
pools -, for in cafe of a pond or ftanding podl,
the owner thereof hath a property in thefini, and
they are fo far faid to be his, that be toay have
tcefpafs iQX the fi(h agaioftany one that fliaU take
them wiehout bis licence^ thot^gh it be upon a
com-
5^^ tA?rs^^ A??GLm(?: ^f
P^amoth OF adjoioing tx> tli€,k\og^higi\mv^ •
or adjoinisig to mother m^s ground, who g1 ve^
ikence ; t^t in cafe of a river, where one or
moit JbtVc /t^^ri^ pifcaria only^ it ia btherwifc,
fiar there the £(hes arc faid to be/er^ Mi^a, ami
tj^ pking of ithem with as angle is not trefpaft,
|or that np man is faid to h^ve a property in them
(iU be have caught thi^m : and then it is a tref^
pais for any to take thetQ from him. JBut thi^ is
not be underdood of fiftes confined to a nun'is
g«Q ground by j^ates or otherwife, fo that they
c^not :pa(i aw^Yi bpit msiy be taken out or put
in at pleafure, for in that ca(e the p^ty hath «
property m (henii as in the catc of a jGtanding
pool.
Bw where any .one haUj fiparaUs pifcaria^ as
in Gfe^// and G^i^nhilh Cafe in , ^
frin. J 5. C^r. I, in the King's- ^^ ^'''' "»•
^mcb^ there it feemeth that the filh may be faid
no be his, becaufe no man elfe may tak^e them
whilfk tbey are within his lcvcral-fi(hing: there-*
jore what i$ meant by a feveral-fiibing is neceflary
to be confidered. And though the difference
between a free-Blhing, and a feveral-Q(bing, bo
Dften tteated of in the antient books of the law^
god fomc opinions will have the difference to bo
great, and others fmall or nothing at all ; ye^
the ccrtaineft definition of a feveral fifhing is,
whereijinehath the royalty, andowneth the ground
on each fide of the water ; which agreeth witif
Sir W^ilHam Caltbrop^s cafe, where
an afition was brought by him ^jd I-'L'^'o'l'
agamft another for fifemg m bis .^ ^
feveral-fiihing, (ffc. to which the
defendant pleaded. That the place wherein the
trefpafs
^* ^^ LAWS ^ Akclihg?
trcfpafs was fuppol^d to he done, contained ten
perches of land in kngth, and twenty perches
in breadth, which was his own freehold at the
time whert the trefpafs was fuppofcd to be done,
and that he fiihed there as was lawful for him
to do; and this was adjudged a good plea by
4he whole court : and upon argument in thiat
very cafe it was agreed, that no man could have
a feveral-fifhing but in his own foil, and that
frce-fi(hing may be in the foil of another man %
which was all agreed unto by Uttkton^ ourfamous
Englijh lawyer. So that from all this may be
drawn this (hort conclufion. That if the angler
take care that he offend not with his feet, there
is no great danger of his hands.
But there are fome covetous rigid perfons,
whole fouls hold no fympathy with thofe of the in-
nocent anglers ^ havins either got to be lords of
royalties, or owners of lands adjoining to rivers,
and thele do, by fome apted clownilh nature and
education for the purpofe, infult and domineer
over the innocent angler, beating him, breaking
his rod, or at leaft taking it from him *, and
ibmetimes imprifoning his perfon as if he were
a felon. Whereas a true-bred gentleman fcorhs
thofe fpider-like attempts, and will rather re-
frtrfli a civil ftranger at his table, than warn
* There is no reading tbis paiTage without figaring to
one's imagination the poor, humble, patient angler^ ftand-
ing flill and defencelefs, while the meicilefs lord of the
manor is laying him on with a (lick> perhaps the butt of his
own rod, or a worfe weapon. I will not difpute with the
author, but that the aieekneA and fabmiffion of the poor
fiiher npon this occaiion are very becoming ; boC this (art
«f paflive valooi: is rather to be admired than imitated.
him
9%e LAWS df Akglivc; 9^
htm from coming on bis ground upon fo innocent
an occafion. It (hould therefore be conlidered
bow far fuch furious drivers are warranted by the
Iaw9 and what the angler may (in cafe of fuch
violence) do in defence of himfclf: If I come
upon iinother man's ground without his licence,
or the licence of the law, I am a trefpaffcr, for
which the owner many have an adion of trefpafs
againft me •, and if I continue there after warning
to depart by the owner, or his fervant thereunto
authorized, the owner, or his fervant by his cool*
mand, may put me off by force, but not beat me,
but in cafe of refinance by me, for then I (by
t^fifting) make the afTault ; but if he beat me, I
not reiifting, in that cafe, he makes the aflault,
and I may beat him in defence of myfelf, and to
Iree myfelf from his violence. And in cafe I (ball
leave my rod behind in his ground, he may ukc
it damage feaf ant ^ but he can neither take it from
my perlon by force, nor break it, but he is a tref-
paSer to me. Which feems clear by the cafe of^
Rtynell and Cbampernoon^ where ,
i8gy».//broughtanaaionoftref. S^'.^'cL «"". ''
pafs agalnii Cbampernoon for
caking and cutting his nets ; the defend)antjufl:i'
fied for that he was feized in fee of a feveral-fifli-
ing, and that the plaintiff with others endea-
voured to row upon his water, and with the nets
to catch his fifli, and that for the fafeguard of
his fifliing he took and cut the nets and oars ; to
which plea the plaintiff detmirred ; and there it
was adjudged by the wbole court, that he could
not by fuch colour cut the nets and oars \ and
judgment was thereupon given for the plaintifiv
Doubtlefs
lob fht LAWS of AttGtiitd^
•
Doubtfcfs our fore-fathers well cottMtttdi
that man toman was a wolf, ancf therefore madttf
good laws ccrkee p OS frdm (fevowinfgonc another j
and anrongft the reft a Very gocS Statute wacf
made in the three ^nd forttetn year of Q^ctrt
Elizaietbj whereby h: is provided, that fh per^
ibnul aftrons m tfte courts at VP^eJhnir^tf^ (being
not fbr land or battery) tvhen h fhall appear td
the judges, (and be fo by them fignifiedj tfcac
die debt Cr damages to* be recovered amonnc not
to th^ fum of foYty flrilfings or above, the fetrf
judges fhaR awi»-d to the plaintiff no more coifs'
than damages, but lefs at their difcretion.
And now wtthr my acknowledgment of the
advantage I have bad both by your friendfliip*
and your book, 1 with nothing majr ever be* that
looks Trfcc an alteration in the ftrft ; xsx any
thing hr the laft, tmlcft, by reafon of the ufefrf
pfeafore of ft, ;^oti had calleid it The Arcadia of
AN-GLiicGi for It dcferves that title, andlwCHild
dcfervf the continuance of your friendflrip.
Since the wilting the foregoing difcooiirre, the
laws of this country, relative to fifhand fiihing^
Kave undergone Iwh cotifiderabie altcratiofis as
woutd alone juftify an addition to it 5 but as it
b^, of Jate, beenobjefterf to all laws that afi%n
an cxclafive right in j(ny of the cnfatores of
God Its p^rrrcui'ar ranks or orders of men, that
they favour of barbarrifhi, and are ctffcoIatetJ tor
lerve the ptirpoftrs of tyranny awd aembitiDns; tf
was thx)nghr nieceflary ro trace the matter Jiifther
back, a-nd (hew from whence laws df this kirtrf
derive thtir force. And tho* it is not imagincrf
that fpcculaciv; arguments will operate upon
men
men of licentioas princtpfes, y« « the gctwrsri
lenof of this work fappofes the angfcr ft) be em?
dued with reafors and uttder the doinrnrot> of
confciencc, it may not be amift to Hate the ob«
Ifgation he b imder to an obfefvartce of fbclk
fows, and to point oat to hitn the fet^eral m-
ftances where he cantiot ptirfM hts recreation
withoat the rifque of his qcriet.
Property is univcrfeHy allowed to be fotittdtdl
onoccupancjTy the very notion dl which impfief
hiduftry, or fome aA in the occupant^ of whidt
HO ftranger has a rrghr taarail hiifrfetf ^ ht eha*
firft took pofleffion of an tmcukrvatcd traft ol
fend, provided h; was no more than neeefl&fy
for the fobfiftencc of himfelf and his fkmify^y
ftccamc thereby the proprietor of fuch land;
Mr. Loch iHuflmtcs this doftrhte by aff ete^
gant mftance 5 •• The water nmnfng i^ the fcrui^-
^ tain, fays he, rs every ones ; Btjt that rfr the
•• pitcher is his who draws it.** Ors dovem^
Mtftfy 1 St.
And if this reafoning be admitted m She earfe
tf land, which is ranked among the irftrtidveabfe
c^bjedtsof property, it is much ftrongcr in favour
ctf things moveat^e, the right of wUch h. at
Mce ckimedy and fortified by aa a£lual poiT^ffion
and reparation from chat common mafa i>ni^biGhr
they were originally fuppofcd to cxift..
But notwiihftanding the innumefabte ^pfo-
^iauons yAw^h ia the prcfeat civiHs^ed ft ate cif
lkmm>f\dj ^pt2if i^ ha^e been madir^ iber^ ^'^
many thrngs whith rtray yet be faid to be m
common and in a ((ace of natural liberty ;. in thh
dafs we (nay rank^ creat^^res pru^ natura, beafts*
of chace» many kinds of fowl, and 41II Rih.-
Ihc
/
t 102 ]
Tlie fifliemuui in Phuaus admits, that none pi
the 601 were his, while they remained in their
projpcr element, and iofifts only on his right to
thole which he had caught. Rudensy Aft 4.
Scene 3, And both the Jemfif and Roman
lawyers aiierc, that wild beads and filh belong
only to thofe who take them ^.
This notion has led many perfons to ioiagine^
that, even now, there fubfifts d general com-
munity of thefe creatures ; and Siat, at this
day, every one has a right to take them to his
own ufe wherever he Bnds them. Not to infift^
that if all men promifcuoufly were permitted the
exercife of this right, it would be of very little
benefit to any, it may fufEce to fay, that there
are few civilized countries that have not found it
neceflary either for promoting fome public good^
or averting fome public mifchief, to controul it
by exprels prohibitions \ and how far fuch pro*
hibitions are deemed lawful and binding on thd
confciences of thofe on whom they are impofed,-
will appear by confulting the authorities in the:
tcaxgm f ; and it is worth noting, chat laws
* Scld. De Jure tJat, iS Gent, juxta Difcip. Ebr/eon
Lib. IV. Cap. 4. Inftit. Lib. II. Tit. i. De rerum <£rw-
Jume l£ acquirendo earum Dominio, However, this is to b^
anderftood only*in cafes wherein there is no law to forbid it^
Grot. De Jure Belli ac Pacis^ Lib. II. Cap. 2. §. 5.
t PafFcndorf De Jure Nat, fcf Gent. Lib. IV. Cap. 6i
4. 6. Gudelin Dejure NjviJJimo^ Lib. II. Cap. 2..D. Lib.
XLI. Tif. 2. De acquirend. 'vel admittend, Pojeji See alfd
Garcilajfo^ de la Vega Comm. Reg. Lib. VI. Cap. 6. Where
banting, by the inferior fort, is prohibited, leil, fays the
law, •• men betaking thcmielves to the pleafure of the
'•_field, fhoold delight in a continued co.irfe of fports, andf
•• fp negled the DecefTary provifion and maintenance of
•• their families."
made
made to pmh&it the tdcing tf citatum /etm
tttMn% bfpaSMt unqudifitcU do not take firom
a man wxf thiog wiuch is Us owb ; hue dicy
baidy forbid die ufe of ceitaia tnetkodli of ac«
qutficion^ which tfa^ kw of Datucc mighty pen^
lutfis^ alloffr o£ Pt^otdogf^k JmNa^ isf Gent^
iJb. IV, Caf. 6. §. 6 *
Agrwabls to the priocifilcs here laid dowa>we
SdA^ that the laws of ni6ft coootries, at leafl:
of ^is^ have afi^gaed the property in the crea^
cures in quefkion to paatipalalr perfons : diiia toi
xoyal fi(h» which am Whaks and Sturgeons^
che k\v% is iatitkd bf his prerogative ; and the
pooperqr of Rfkk in rismrs^ or ai Icafl^ a rigbtf
to take thcia^ is^ tn many places, giveD to corV.
porations \ as with us, the fi(hery of slie river
Thames is granted to the gtty of Lcnduti imithoi
tpvnfmen of Hmignfmrdj in Berh^w% claiiil a
right of fifliiog » chat part <^ ^he xisrtr KtmeK-
oaUed dimr axximon water« under a grant fhm '
Jabrt of Gmmtj who, we may fupfsok^ deriwd
n &om the crawn ^ ; but in vaoSi iaftances fifli
belong to the owner of the fotl.
Tfattie principles being rccogRized^ and pro^
jperty oncefetdod, it is eafy to fee the n^cefiity ami '
the joftioe d jfencing it wiidi poGdve laws y zq^
cordingly^ in this cgnntcyy judicid detefmina^
tions havc^ from time to time, . been made, af«»
Ziegltr on GnttMft Lib. IL C^p* £•$«{«.
, f The toiiwfmeii of ltbmgfrfir4 b«vf s borOy boldiag ,
sboat a quart, tbe lofiriptioii wKereof afirns it to havd
been given by John of Gaunt , ajong with the tiat'ffiinjr'
(lb it is thefem esprelSd) in a jcertiiin part of tbe riven
H h ccrtatnlng
[104)
eertiuning the rights of perlbxis to fifhemes ; and
thefe, together with the feveral llatutes enaAed
to prevent the deftru&ion of fi(b, compofe the
laws relating to fifh and fiihing ; the formei',
by way of fup^lement to the foregoing difcourfe,
are here laid down, aqd the latter will be refers
fed to.
The property which the common law ^ives
in river-fim uncaught, is of that kind which
18 cdMcd/pecial^ or qualified property ; which fee
defined by Lord Coke^ in his Reports, Pari y.
^Q. I J. b. and is derived out of the right to the
place or foil where fuch filh live : fo that, fup-
pofing them, at any given inftant, to belong to
one perfon, whenever they refort to the foil of
water of another, they become his property, and
& in infinitum.
i And to prove that this notion of a flu&uating
or tranfitory property, is what the law allows, we
need only apply it to the cafe of the water in a
river ; which is fo conftantly paffing from the foil
of one to another, that no man can, in ftriftnefs,
be faid to go twice to the fan^ river ; and yet,.
by a grant gf any given quantity of land covered
with water, which is the only legal defignation.
erf aTiver, nor only a certain traft of the river,
but the fiih contained in it, (hall pafs, (^ftCokf
on Lftikiony 4.. z. ^
Iq thp Regijierj a very ancient law-book, we '
find.tWQ writs relating to fifh ; the one, for the
unlawful taking df b5k in a feveral-fifhery ; and
the otficr, in i fr?e-fifliery^ and of thcfe in
.their order,
A. feveralrfiihery, is that which a man is in?
(itied tq ii\ refpe£): oif his being the owner of the
<S - foil,
r 105 I -
•» • • ■ *
{oil, snd IS what no one can have in the land of
another, unlefs by fpecial grant or prefcription 5
and whoever (hall fifh in iSch a feveraVfifliery,
without a licence^ is liable to an at^ion of tref*
pafs, in which the plaintiff may well demand ;
wherefore^ in the plaintiffs fever alfijhery^ ih^
defendant was Jijhingy and his fifhe$ took, &c. for
though the filh be/^^ natura^ yet being taken
in the water of the owner of the fiver, they are
faid to be bis lifh, without faying in his foil or .
water, 3d Croke^s Reports, 553. Child and Green-
MPs cafe ; but he muft fet forth the nature and
number of the fifli taken, 5 Croke*s Reports, 35.
Playter^s cafe, and 3d Croke 18,
A frec-fiflicry is a right to take fi(h in the
water and foil of another, and is derived out
df a feveral-filhcry. If one feized of a river,
without including the foil, grants ^ feverj^l-
filhery, or, which amounts to no more than
that, his water, a right of fifhing pafles, and
nothing clfe. Plowden*s Commentary^ 1 54. b. Coi^c
on Uttleton^ 4. b. and the word feveraU in fuch
cafe, is fynonimousTwithy^/^, and that in fo ftrift
a fenfe, that by fuch a grant not only ftrangers,
but even the owner of the foil, is excluded fronv
filhing there. Co, Litt. 122. a. And further,
where bne prefcribes to have a fevcral-filhery in ^
a water, which prefcription' always fuppofes a '
grant precedent, the owner of the foil, as much
as a ilranger, is liable to an adlion if he fi(hes
there. 2 Roll. 258. the cafe of Forifton and'
CraUhrode in the Common-Pleas^ Mich. 29. and .
3^0. Eliz. But here the writ fliall vary from that
in the cafe of a feveral-fifhery, and demand,
H h 4 wb^j-
a*"
[ io6 J.
wbentfore ibi defatddMiy in tie fru-fifiiify of A&f.
ptainftff at N* vnthaut the Uuna mJL^ con&H ^
the plaintiffs wasji/bing^ &c. otprefllng the mn^
cure and number of the fi(h takeo^ butbecaufe
the (oil does not pais by fuch a grants aad tbfi
BSk txt fera naiura^ he fhalL not call then Ui
fifb) as m the former indance. See the cafe of
Child and Greenbilh above cited*
The do£trine deducible from thefe pr iociplea
\%s that that which united with the f6il» would
be a feveral-fiftierv, when fevered by grant, thougjii
the grant be of a (everal, on: fole, and not of afree<r
fifliery, in ierminis^ becomes a frce-fifliery.
There is yet another cale that I (hall mentioiv
which will give the intelligent reader a clear no-
tion of this matter. A man grants to- one, or
more, a Hhrty ^Afifinm * ; here nothing but %
naked right to fi(h pafles, and the remedy agaioft
a trefpawr is not fevered from the ia\\ the
owner whereof, and not the grantee,, may main^r
tain na a£tbn, and may alfo fifh himfelf. CV»
JJtt. 122. a.
As common of fi(bing may be appendant Kx^
}and^ fo ^Ifb thete may be a joint-tenancy, or ^
Xiiifxxz^ in coptiDQon of a mhery. i . Ir^n i &6^»
* I ^d ^ png/L Wdrw. i I4a» /«• margiuif aa accooat
of the following graiiti which for its &ngpimty deferves.
adtice.
31 ^m^ in. ** Thmsu df Cfimptti o$Jmmiofi^ levied «^
<* lint to PtiLMarmiQth |h«c be mul his b«irs» his wife^ and
'* ^eir heirs* might, waen they c^me to Tumnu$rtbt or to
'< their caftle at JkT/V/tfMf fifh with a, boat any where in
^* his water at Amimin^ with oae net» called a fleu-net^
^ and a tramil and fayna \ for which liberty he; ^ave him
ff Jbc jpatb of «lw/'
tforing xjsM Atmtt in what adfet tlie a^gicr^
in lilt piiuifait of hitB reorearion^ snay beoohic a
*nfpofer^ lee us aoKt <sanfider Jiow far fae i% by
4akidg fifk» tn daoger of oMMnitttng Larcay^
for diac the takiog fifk «3t of •a po&d, widiott
«lie coiiCeot of the owner^ faila iv&chia tny Lord
Cckt% dcfinttUai uf nhat crime. He one am dcniipc
that reads it. Hia werds are, ^ Larceny is the
^ l^kmiomi and fraudulent oakiog and carry «-
^ ing away, bf any nttoi or woman, of the
^ mcpt )>cr(oaal tgoods of anocfaer; nekher fpom
the perfon n9r by night, in the houfe^^^ (fat
x>wner," 3 J Inji. 107. and a little after, 109.
he exprefsly fays, <^ Larceny may be committed
•* of fifties in a pond.^
Now, though to qnake the taking any perfonal
thing felonious, reafon and the law require, that
the party fliould do it animo furandi^ fee BraSion^
Lib. 3. Fol 1^0.* FiMi^ Lit. i. Cap. 36. which
we willvfuppdfe no ar^er 10 ise poflefled with i
yet whetl^er by tbe word^i^ 1^ are to under-
uand ponds at larg^ is |)er1|^ps of. fome confe*
quence for him to kriovf .
It is a rule in law, that petfonal goods, and
things fevered from the freehold, Siall go to
the executors, and not to the heir. fVentwortb*%
Office of an Executcr^ Chap. 5. and fo ftiall fi(h
in a trunk, or the like, iiid. but Lord Oke^ in
his Ccmmeniary on Littleton^ Fol. 8. tells us,
that fifti in a pond (hall go with the inheritance»
becaufe, fays he, " they were at their liberty,
*^ and could not be gotten without induftry, as
«* by nets or engines/'
From hence we may conclude, that fifti in
ponds cannot be feid to be meer perfonal goods,
H h 3 and
t io8 ]
snd then it foUows'as a confcqoencc, tfaattif fuch
ii(h larceny cannot be committed ; and we may
further conclude, that the word pands^ in the
above paflage, muft mean only ftew-pends, cif-
cerns, or other fuch fmall receptacles of fifli.
Many wholfome laws have, from time to
time, been ena&ed, to prevent the deftru6tion
of fifli ; but they are fb numerous, that I muft
refer the reader to the Statutes at large, or to the
Abridgment, publilhed by a late worthy and
learned friend of mine^ Jobn Cajf^ £fq; de*
ceafed.
>
APPENt
t iog)
*s * %
9e^isssaas>8i^assoidK$9
• •
A P P E N D I Xi
N U M B E k I.
wmh
IMMfeAi
rfMMMMilMrt«M
FEBRUARY.
EACOCK-ttAcKLfi* PcacodcVhcri
aldhe, or ihterchaliged with oftrich htil^
warpifig red (ilk; red cock's hackle over,
all; it may be varied by a black cock^l
hackle and ftlver-twift.
Taien cbiify from mim to eleven in the tMrmng^ and
from one to three in the Afternoon.
This and the feveral other hackles, which we have
here and hereafter defcribed, being moft teitipting baits»
fhould always be firft tried when the angler comes to a
firange river ; and not changed till he has found out^
^d is certain what particular fly is upoa the water«
MARCH.
Grebn Pbacmic Hacku. Grernifli herl ot A
peacock ; warping, ^reen Glk, a Uack hackle over alU
Taken from etght to eleven in t^mn^rning.
Dark Brown« Dub witt|^}$a}r of a dark brown
fpanid or calf, that looks r«cM)r by btitig expofed to
wind and wtaihcrj warp wHh okUj or ^ocolate-co*
B.h^ loured
I
no A P P/END IX:
lomcd filk. The wiog of the darkifli part of ft ftarfog'Si
i|aill feather.
XokiH cbiijfy /r§m mng u eUvm in tbt tmrmtigi dm
foMfy iaiti in ScptesAcr.
Ash -COLOURED Dim. Dub whfa Che roots of a.
foz^cub's tail; wtrp with pate yeUew filk: wing of
the pale part of 4r ftarliteV feather.
' hakenffmyu^tumwm^ ^ frum mi U Arte. .
This fljTi wbicn is alfe cfailed the ?iolet dim and blue
dun, is to be foond on almoft etery river; fome parti-
culars of it have been nuntkmefl in the note. Part II.
p. 57 ; but here foDow fome obferranions on it» which
defenre to be attended to : it rariet muchr in its colour,
accardiag toAc fcafaft of the ycat> InJdardfUxiSspm
Umber it is called, and that very properly^ the violet
dun, for it has often that hue; and therefore, in the
paflage above referred to, mjt havt diicAed the mixinjg;
blue-violet crewef #itb the lox<vb down. In April it
affumts-a palt«afli-€9lQttr, wdin Mnf is ef a beaii^iii}
lemon-colour, botfi body and wtftgs. Itujion and %f/y.
ft is blue-blackft and ftom ^ulf it mfenfibfy varies tnl ft
becomes of its primitive colour, violet dun, wUdi it
•eYq fails to daby "t^Ombtr^
p£Aiti-Coi.oint, or Hf ROM Dun. ]>ub witb Ihi^
yellowilb or afli-cotoilrcd herl[ of a heron, warp witW
alhH:Qloured filk : wijsg from the fliort feather of. a be*
ron» or from a coot's wing, of an aCh'^cotoun
Marning and aftirmon, "
Blus D(;k. Dub with the furr of a water-rat ;
Warp with aifti^CDioiir ; wii^ of a coec*i ftather^
M AY»
M A T-
SitvER-Twur Hacklb. Dub with the bcrt of an
od ri(9i«feffther ; Wtftp wirii dark >erMi> UiftfA^tt^
Md bhtK^ oock^B httcUti over all.
Sodt'Y DvN. Dab wkb bltd: Qpsniel^ Aarf, or 'At
herl of an oftricb i warp with gKeA | Wtfig, the 4aili
jpatt t>f a iand^l -or coot.
T'tfini ^ 14^ ajkowirj day^ as alfr h April ^ Jnoc*
Lt^Ht Y^ AMtiM, or S»tf HO BitowN^ D«b with
light brown of a^)f| warp with eraiigeHeolour; wii^
#f a pafe erey Mallard's feather*
Tai<n meflj t^tfiat-fit in n tffMrm ivumg*'^ f9Hl
mbw^ mnh htn Inn Jkid^ in ihi firjl fan tftbg
fortgahi^ -iiatipm^ of 1^ iMJk*^, Ahr linrAffr <kat givm
kti a vtry fipirficial defcriplim 9f U^ aml^is iini&ioiii
fihr ifiahng it are ixirmefy impiffe^ ; me tu^nU thePifim
frcomnM the making H after tie mourd flj^ 4mi tbm
aMrding h ihefffH&wing dtre^iem.
PlV. &ffottiecaiHedth6«(h^ily, (b)rt)ili«rH
tr rottdoufty, <!be hflwthoffi-11]^) The bead) ^^HhcIi n
lar^, of an dh-tolotrr \ the apper part of tbi; body
g«eytfliy with two or iSiree harrs of bright brown txAjUti
ind a very little light blue, and fometimes a hair or two
^ light green ; the tail part is greyifli mixt with orange :
tiring <»f a mottled brown if^ther of a woodcock, par-
tridge, or 'bhawti hen ; book N* 8 or 9. This is fbe
flv which is feen imioh in Marth^ Aprils May^ and
^iW, OR the hody 'of aAi8» oaks, wiHowai, or thorns,
growing near the water, ftanding with its head down*
wards; i(is an excellent fly, but difficult to imitate, .
fcehig t»f many . cdoi/rs, trneqtially mix'd. It takes
cbiefff In the morning i it does ndt ftam to eMie from
•97 cadis,, ior it awer drops in great natubers on the
^waiters
water i and the wings are Ihort, and Ik flat on the back|
like ihe blue -bottle, or large flcfli-fly.
*
OEAN61-TAWNXY9 Orangb-browmt, CaMLET'-
FI.Y, Alder-fly, Withy^-fly, or Bastard Ca-
dis. Dub with dark brown fpaniePs hair, or calPs
hair, that fhincs, or barge-fail ; warp with deep orange^
black hackle under the wing : wing of a darkifli feather
of a mallard or ftarling.
Taim dnefy in a morning befire the gnen^Jrale coma
upon too waiit*
HtJ2z ARD. Dub with pale lemon-coloured mohair,
or oflrich feather dyed jellow ; warp with yellow, gold^
twill and yellow hackle over all. Wing of a very pale
inaUard'a feather dyed of a lemon-colour, the wings
large, and longer than the body, lying flat on the back.
Taien in a btufltring daj^ befon ihe May 3/^ comes in.
A fly little known, "but the moft beautiful of the in«
feA fpecies that frequent the water. It is larger than the
green-drake, of a beautiful lemon-colour, both body
and wings, which are four in number, and lie dofe to
its back. It is to be met with in but few rivers, and is
cfteemed a great curiofity ; in thofe rivers that produce
fhem, they appear in great numbers about the latter end
of April I at which time, and afterwards, the Trouts
rife at them very eagerly : doubtlefs this is a true water-
fly : it is fuppofcd to be produced from a very large
cadis.
Death Drake. The body, one herl of black oflrich
and two of peacock ; filver-twift, black hackle : wing
of the dark leather of a mallard, of a copper-colour.
Taken dnefly in un evening when the Mzy-Jlj is abnofi
g9ne.
. Yellow Miller, or Owl-Fly^ The body of a>
yellow matter n's furr, or oflrich herl dyed buflT colour:
4ving of the ruddy feather of a young p^eacQjdL's wiog^
or pale brown chicken.
A S#rPw iV^
APPENDIX iff
Taken from fuih fit till ten at nighty and from tu;o till
four in tio morning*
JULY.
Middling Browk. Made of calf s hair twilled
upon pale yellow fill^ for the'filk to appear : win^;: of a
niallard*8 feather.
Dark Brown. Warp with rediillc, with a deep
orange tag at the tail : wing of a mallard's feather.
WiLtow Cricket, or Small Peacock Fly,
A herl of a green peacock's feather ; warp with green
iilk : win^ oT a ftar)in^*s feather, longer than the body.
A morning fy^ efpeaally for Grayling in rapid rivers.
Pismire. The body, fome few reeves of a cocji:*
fiheafant's tail-feather,, or ruddy^ barge- fail, or brown
carpet, or old bear's- hair, towards the roots, tanned
witn the weather : one peacock's herl may be twifted
With it : warp with ruddy filk : wing, the light part of
a ftarling's feather, left longer than the body,
Jt Hlhngfly after an emmet -flighty hut not before*
AUGUST.
• - - I
The pifmire through this month \ as alfo the othej^
flies of the laft month.
SEPTEMBER.
Largs Foetid Light Browk. The body of
light calf or cow's hair, or feal's furr dyed of the colour ;
warp with ruddy or orange-coloured filk: wing, of a
ruddy brown chicken large and lon^.
A killing fly in a morning. Thts fly is much upon
Hackney river ^ and i$ much ruddier there than elfe*
tvhere. Sofgewbat of its hiJUry is given in the notes^
t^eziiU
NCM-
■v.
*- "
ft9 API^ENDISL
N U M B E K IL
JANUARY.
^ PH IN G Black. Body, black wool of « jOmcp^j
^ face, with or without a greenifli peacdck^s^Ii
!irarp with biowa filk: Ifriqg^ the ^re/ fiiather ^ a
tnallard.
SscoND Spring Black. Body« the very Ucckeft
|>art of the daikeft hare's fcat you can procure, wiifi
or without a greenilh peacodc's herl ; warp widi a&«
ttlouced fitk I wmgy of a fietdfarc*a feather.
This mdthi vtbnjfring blaA an he/l taktn in hrtgbl
BtOA ^ HxEL« Body, bkck Tabbet'i fcut ; blaci
ef a hare's icut i greenifli iwacock herl i warp with
i>ro«n Siki wii\g» the liglit part of a field£iie^f
liBathcr.
Black Hacrli. Body, pale yellow filk^ with a
Uack cock's hackle (turned about it^
DxxK Hmkli. Bod|jr, diio-cotoiued fitk. wi^ a
dun eock's hackle.
The faafe flics a* tit Jhaflcd im At MBCidkis
a This it a aorth»c»witt>^np<, airf-M L«ai 4iU» fty|iii»t i<Joyt
ffSfcmUinf d)at #f i|aidl«*<a^acka wiuUli bai a VkiiiDi^Sft. 1 i(ad iC
thot ^sptalnea in a Mttl0|iie of locafl w6tU, ciMm«u%iM)S In^i lisiter
lafiapWwl laMMf bilwcaii tlM l#ima| Mr.U^H» ^Mlmcat A^« Mi-
aMuou fMi94Qnte% OlfapfPy 17 iS, f^ jai.
MARCH.
M A R C IT.
The Yatfie flies ae are diifAcd foe the pieccdioi;
months i and alio thA i
Turkey ^ly^ or March FtYt Bodyv brown
f9al*$hair, tops df ibftlvings ctn ^fwdfom^ fiioe
riukty, others gr^^ wcJt mixed lofeiberi wasp witf^
pink and yelbw» or piu and Iitf^t> colouiedr bf oim fiQcg
twtfled together; wiog, of a {^eafant-cocl^^ feather*
N. B. STAu, kisfi^p^ed^ i$ tU f»bfy^ ^ mmh m$l
up in Wales.
APRIL.
LiciiT Bloa. Bodjr, Mfjti/t fex-ettl^fttrr, » Ktttit
light foal's hak i » liitle (quirrdV bbt^ and fbeirhitilk
yellow of the faBie» all thefe well mixed together;
warp with yellow fiHt ; wing, of a l%hc fieldfare's
feather*
DuK. Body, dunned filmert ^ or martem's fisrr r
in^uM fox-dun; light dun fox-cub; coarfe hair of
the ftump of % fquirrel'k tail of a brightffli browtr, of a
Sllowiflicaft; warp with yellow fitt; : wing, the %hC
ither of a fieldfare.
Plain Hacklb. Body, black oftrich herl» wttk
red orblacic cock's hackle over its and in hot weather^
add gold- twift.
Rti> HACictt. Body, red fitk and gold-twift, a»f
a red cock's hackle, till June. Afterwards uTe ovange
iilic for^he body. An excelUntfly.
N. B. This is fnore proptrfy the eranti^Jly. It r^-
fimbUs in colour a Seville orm^i. - ffi^s may h
addid^ iitber of 0 btn or dnckiHf of tm omiige sr
* Filmcrt. This 11 the animal which WaUon^ p. x^. calls the folTs-
inart s bat t^ike foimcr it a name by which it U very w^l knowa at the
rndtfy
fl$ APPENDIX.
r$Mf cajt ; or a dull dark tvhg^ 0/ ibi fofkfifeOf^
thn of a rook*s wing. It has four wings^ two mA
ibi bodf^ of a very dark grey colour ^ and twofirving
as a cafi over tbem^ fomtiimes of a dirty blackljh co*
kuTy andfometimn of an orange colour.
Bloa WArcHET *• Is a fmall fiy, and appears
on the water in a cold day, (hook No. 9 or 10. J the
body, furr of a water rat, black part of a hare's fcut,
the pale roots cut oiF, a very little brown bear's hair;
warp with the pale brown^ or olive-coloured iilk : wing
of a ben blackbird.
Yellow Watchet. Body, water-rat's furr, the
Uackeft part of a hare's fcut, greenifli yellow crewel
for feet ; warp with green filk : wing, the Nghteft part
of a blackbird's feather. Hook, No. 9 or 10.
Knotted Grey Gnat. Body, darkeft part of
a hare's (cut, dark brown foal's hair, dark furr of the
black of an old fox ; warp with grey filk ; wing, the
hloa feather of a iieldfare.
Grebn-Tail. Body, dark part of a hare's fcut, and
darkeft bloa furr of an old fox ; light part of a fquirrel's
tail, and a hair or two of the coar fe browni(h part of.
it for feet; warp with alh- coloured filk:' wing, of %
ben pheafant.
Sand Fly. Body, dark brown foal's hair, a little;.
bloa fiiuirrel's furr, and the whitifli yellow of the fame ;
warp with ytllo^ filk ; wing, the light part of a field-
fare's feather.
MAY.
The nine foregoing flies dire6led for jfpril^ and alfb
the '
• Wjitchet. Color caeruleas albicant, SUajur, Pale or iky-blot.
Bloa.
APPEND IX. liif
BtOA Herl. Bpdy^ fox's furr, dark part of ^
hare*8 fcut, greeni(b herl of a peacock (if the wcatbec,
is warm for the feafoj), otherwife little or none of the
greeniih herl i) warp with brown filk : wings of a ftar«
ling's feather.
PufiT* Body, dunnifh bloa furr of an old fox, mixed
wi^li pale yellow, the ends of the hairs of an old fox
almoft red ; fome coarfe hairs taken out of the tail or
bruih ; warp with yellow : wing, darling's feather.
Ston^-Gnat. Body, the roots of the ^rkeft
part of a hare's fcut, the top or ends being cut ofF;
warp with a(h*coloured filk : wing, a blackbird's fea-
ther.
Light BtoA. Body, light furr of an old fox,
ipixed with pale yellow crewel ; warp with pale jrcllew
^Ik ; wing, light feather of a jay.
Orakge Brown. Body, orange-cdofired wooU
with bright brown bear's hair mixed | warp with
orange filk : wing, of a ftarling's feather.
Peacock HACKtB. Body, peacock's ruddy herl s
Xid cpck's hackle ^ warp with red filk*
Black Herl. Body, black herl of an oftrich,
and ruddy herl of a peacock, twifted together; warp
with brown filk : wing, the light feather of a field*
ftrc.
Pewet, or Lapwing's Topping. Bodv, peacock's
herl, and that of a lapwing's crown feather, twifted
together ; warp with red filk : wing, the red feather
pf a partridge tail.
RfiB
fit A 9 P £ K D t X.
Red Here; Bodjr, two herb of a peacock, twiAtI
together ; warp wkh ruddjr ilk : iriagt At ui tedher
af a partridge %mi.
JUKE.
The dun» ftone-gnat» U^ blost oraoge-brown*
peacQck hackle, black herl, pewet's topping, and red
berl or the laft mootb, go alfi>. through tbis> tbort are
taken che
Whittbrx$h. Body, the root* end of ^ white
^c of a b arc's (cut ; light grey ibal's hair, or camel'ji
hair, towards the tail, the dark part of a hare's ft;ua
with (bme brown hairs mixed : peacock's her} fbr the
bead ; warp with white filk : wing, the feather <^ a
fea^mcw.
Light GlttY. Body, furr of the iimer part of a
rabbit's leg, the liahttft of the dark part of a hare*r
fcut 1^ warp with a(h ooloured filk: win^, light grey
ndlard's feather*
J V L Y.
* The peacock haekle. Mack kerl, pewet^s toppiHg^
and red herl of May and ywUf and the whtcteriih ana
lifljht-grey of the lafl month feivaalfe fgr this^ and t6
tpofc add the
Brown. Body, hair of a very Tight broWn or fed-
dillt calf or fpaniel, and light beard's hair mixed ; war^
with pale orange : wing» the fisatbcr of a land-caiU
AUGUST^
The peacock hackle, and the three following fifes of
A^vy, and the two fubfeqi^nt months, and the browa
of the laft month, fervealfo for this ; in which alfo are
tAett the
Gaar
APPENDIX. it^
6rey*Fly. Body, light gfcy foal^s hair mixed
tvith the dark part of a harems fcut ; warp with grey
(ilk : wing, a hen-pheafant^s feather.
Black Ant-Fly. Body, darkeft part of a hare's
icut^ and dark brown wool, or flieep's ruflet, equally
mixed, and one fingle ruddy herl of a peacock, all
twifted together ; warp with copper- coloured fUk :
wing, a fieldfare's feather.
Buo WN An T-F& y. Body, bright brown beards hair»
much weather beaten, almoft of an orange-colour to«
wards the tail, and therefore a few hairs of a light
brown, or flame-coloured calf, or fpaniel's hair to be
added in the tail-part; warp with orange- coloured iilk :
wing, the light feather of a fieldfare or flarling.
NUMBER in.
FEBRUARY*
•pHIME Dun. Dubbing, of the down of^ a fot^
^ cub, warped with fad afh- coloured filk; wings, pt
the feather got from the quill of a * (bepftare's wing.
This fly is made little ; but there is another made of
che faaie dubbing larger by far.
MARC H.
The fame flies as are taken in February will be take0
in Marchy and alfo thofe hereafter mentioned.
* The reader it to iiote» that ihepilarey ftire, and ft«rliA|, uiti
words fyjfioQimQus. Vid« Minjb, Di£t. f^M Sta«i.
I i MooRUJl
It
^ APPENDIX.
Moorish Browk. Dubbing of the wool df ai
bVack (beep v warped with red filk : wings* of the fea-
ther got from a partridge wing*
PalM'Fly. Dubbin^} of the hafir of a brown
fpaniel, got on the omiide of the earj and a little ka^
Seen wool mrxed, warped with brown cioth-coloure<t
k t wings, of a Ihepftare's quill-feather.
Green*Tail. Dubbing, of the brown hair of a
fpantcl, got on the ootfide of the ear, but a iittle irt
the end of the tail ; muft be all of fea-green Vfoo),;
without nrixture ; wings as the laftr * ]
APRIL.
Bright Bear. Dubbing, of bright bear's hair j
Warped with fad rfotb-cotoured filk: wings, of afhep*-
itare's quill^feather ; others dub the body with yellow
fiUc, which is better.
Yellow Dun. Dubbing, of yellow wool, and a(h-^
coloured fox-cub down mixed together, dubbed with
yellow filk : wings, of the feather of a (hepftare's quill :
ethers dub il with dun bear's hair, and the yellow furr.
gpt from a martern's fkin, mixed together, and with
yellow filk: wings, of a fhepSare'sqiiill- feather. Make
two other flies, their bodies dubbed as thelaft; but in
tfie one mingle fanded hog's down ; and in the other
black hog's down : wings, of a .{hepftare's quill-fea-
tber : and there is aifo taken an excellent fly, made
of dun bear's hair, ydlow oiarterA'i furr, fanded hog's
do., n, ai;d black hog's down, all mixed in an equal
prrbiiontc cither; warped yirlth yellow filk : wings of 1
tlv; v. tb-rr of a {hep{lare's quHl. Thefts feveral flies
r - 0 ^ -v' :.- ^/J-//, are very good, and will be taken
MAY.
to
M A f .
THORk-FLy« Dubbing, of black 1amb*s woot,'
Warped with black fxlki Wing§ of a mallard's light gttf
feather.— Note, That in all the in/iamss tvheti inaaards
featheti ari dire^$d io be ufedfor ivinp^ ihef tfCUft he thaft,
if the ivildj and not the tame mdlJard.
Knop-Fly. Dubbing, df the down of ah otter-
cub, and this berl of a peacock; warped with black
(ilk : wings of the light grey feather of a mallard.
Fern-BuD; This fly is got on ferii; ind the iia<-
tural dne is very good to dib with ^ it has a fhort thick
body, of a very fad greentfh colotir, and two pair of
wings ; the uppermoQ are hard, and fontetimes takeii
oiF; but the undermoft diaphanotis, and it is dubbed,
with the herl of a peacock^ and very fad grieen filk :
wings, of the feather of a fieldfare^s quill got out of the
wing.
Little Duk. Dubbing, of ah otter^s furr; warped
Drith a{h*coloured filk: wiogSi of a fbepftare's quill-
leather.
Yellow MAY-tLY. Dubbing, of yellow woof^
rkXjotd with yellow furr of a marterh ; warped with
ytliow filk : wiUgs of the lighteft-coloured fesither of A
t^rofile.
J U N E.
Black Midot, or Gnat? Dubbing, of tfifedbvt^tt
of a nfK)!e ; v\rarped with black filk : wings, of a ligbc
grey ftiepftarc's quill-feather.
Grey Midge, or Gnat; Dubbing, of the down
of a fad grey cat, or fad grey camel's hair j warped
with grey filk : wings of the grey feathdr of a mallards
I i 2 Purple
tti A P P E N D I X;
Purpib-Fly* Dubbing, of parple wool, and a
little bear*s bair mixed ; fometimes no bear's bair at all :
win£8, of a fhepftaic's quill*feather i warped with pur*
pie filk.
Sand-Fly. Dubbing, of the wool gotten ofF the
ftank of a black (beep, warped with black (ilk : wing9,
of the fad-coloured feather of a throfiie*quiU ; others
make the body of the feather of a heron's neck.
Mackerll. Dubbing, of light brown camel's
hair ; warped with black filk : wings, of a red cock's
feather.
JULY.
RlU£ DtJK. Dubbing, of the down of a water*
moufe, and the bluifh dun of an old fox mixed toge*
ffaer ; warped with fad alh-coloured filk : wings, of a
Ibepftare's quill -feather.
AUGUST.
fiuss BrowK. Dubbing, of the light brown bair of ^
a curj the head black: wings, of the feather of a red.
hen i warped with orange-coloured filk.
HEARTH 'Fly. Dubbing, of the wool of an old-
black iheep, with fomc grey hairs in it, for the body
and head : wings of a Tight (hepfiare's quill -feather^
warped on with black filk.
Pismire -Fly. Dubbing, of bright brown bear's
b^if) warped with red filk : wings, of the faddeft-co-
loured ihepftare's quill -feather. A goodfij^
SEPTEMBER.
Little Blue Dun. Dubbings of the down of a
moufe for body and head ; warped with fad aih-coloured
fiik : wings, of a fad-coloured (bepftare's quill feather.
IT
[ "3 J
TT has already been bintedj Page 262, that
the bifi^y of Aquatick InfeSls is at prefent
hut little known : in order ^ therefore ^ to ajjijl
fuch as may be difpofed to make enquiries into
this Jiupendous branch of Natural Science^ he^
Jides recommending to the readers attentive
perufalj the life of the Ephemeron, an in--
fe£l very little differing from our Green and
Grey Drake^ tranjlatedfrom the Low Dutch
of Dr. Swammerdam, by Dr. Edw. Tyfon,
Lond. Quarto, 1681, we have added as the
next number of this Appendix ^ a tranflation of
Mr. RayV Methodus Infe£lorum, mentioned
by Dr. Derham, Phyf. ThcoL p. 234.
Did thisjludy lead to nothing more than the
improvement of anglings perhaps it had not
been infifled on with that degree of earneftnefs
which appears in the foregoing pages : but
purfuits of this kind have a natural tendency
to open and enlarge the mind^ and to excite the
I i 3 affeSlions
affe£Hom of reverence and gratitude toward^
that Beingj ivbofe wifdom and gi>Qdncfs arp
vifibli in the JiruSiure of the meaneji reptile.
" The wifdom o^God receives fmall honour
from thofe vulgar heads that rudely ftate
about^ and with a grofs rufticity s^dmire
his works ; thofc highly magnify him,
whpfe judicious inquiry into his a£!:S) and
5* deliberate rcfcarch into his creatures, re-
?* turn the duty of 9 devout and learned ^d*
V miration.'* ReHgio Medici y Seft. i^.
fC
-it
N tr M-
i <
APPENDIX.
-4*5
I
N U M B E R IV.
<y Aquatic Infedls covering themfelves witA
cafes, from the Obfervation /yf Mr.
WiLLOUGHfiy.
N SECTS breeding in the water, covering, theiii-
felves with cafes, are either with a cafe,
flmmoveaHe^ or fattened with fiones; or with a body^
C Rounds with little threads^ at the iides,
C Flat^ and more compadl, without little threads.
Moveable^ portable, or migratory, commonly calM
Phrygan^a\ being furnifhed with little threads, as
well in the back as in the fides, by which they fiicic
iirmly to their ^afes, referving the head and feet,
with three little Jcnobs beyond (be feet, whi^h
they can ered or put forth at will, to hinder, Ic^
their cafes, hanging over their heads while they afe
walking, fliould trouble them* .
And they are dther, la cafest
Strak, either having
f Straws joined together, and thoTe either
Parailely of which there are two forts; firft,
the greater, two inches long; fccond, the
leffer, a«d moft common Straw-worms,
Tranfverfey and fhorterf with which, fome-
times, are mingled little fiones and fhelts.
No Straws flicking, but little ilones, or fmall
fand ; which are either
r Rounds with little worms within, calted C^d^
< baits \ or,
C Flat^ or corapaS,
1 i 4 With
\
«6 APPENDIX.
With romewhat greater ffones fticking Co the
fides of the cafe, not in the downward or
prone part; from whence they neceflarily ap-
pear flat or compad.
With no (h>nes fticking to the fides, but with a
cafe running i^to a flender margjn or border,
as fome wings ;• with a more plain and compa£i:
cafe than the former.
fCro^Hedy or rather horned ; for there are crooked
cafes of thefe, and one extremity larger, the
other lefs. We have known four different forts
of thefe, viz. The greater and lefTer black, the
gre;^ter and leiler a(h -colour.
All the.fe produce flies with large wings, rivals to tbe
Papiliis^ and the Nympba of thefe, which are to fpring
from thofe little worms, which, like tortoifes, carry
their houfes along with them ; and within which houfes
Ihey turn into Nympba^ from which Nympha after-
-^nrards fpring little flies, are what Dr. Siuammerdam
Ijpeaks of in his fourth order of tranfmutations ; when,
in our opinion, they may belong to the third| becauib
ihey change their (kin twice*
N U M-
APPENDIX. lif
N U M B E R V.
Containing additional Rules and Cautions,
9
• «
I. "TT THEN you ha^Tc hooked a fifli, never fufFcr
W him to/uf» out with the line ; but keep your
rod bent, and as near perpendicular as you can ; by
this method the top plies to every pull he makes, and
you prevent the draining of your line : for the fame
reafon,
II. Never raife a large fifli out of the water by taking
the hair to which your hook is fattened, or indeed ai^y
part of the line into your hand ; but either put a. landing-
net under him, or for want of that, your hat : you may
indeed in fly-fi(hing, lay hold of your line to draw a
fifli to you s but this muft be done with caution.
III. Your (ilk for whipping hooks and other fine work,
muft be very fmall; ufe it double and wax it, and in-
deed any other kind of binding with (hoemaker's wax,
which of all wax, is the tougheft, and holds beft: if
your wax is too (lifF, temper it with tallow.
IV. Inclofe the knots and joints of your lines in a.
.fmall pill of wax, prefled very clofe, and the fuper-
fluities pinched off: this will foon harden and prevent
the knots from drawing.
V. If for ftrong fiftiing, you ufe grafs, which when
you can get it fine, is to be preferred to gut, remeitiber
always to foak it about an hour in water before you ufe
it : this will make it tough, and prevent its kinking.
y I. Whenever you begin fifliing, wet th^ ends of the
joints of your rod ; which, as it makes them fwell, will
prevent their loofening. And,
VII. If you happen with rain or othcrwife to wet
your rod, fo that you cannot pull the joints afunder,
turn the ferrel a few times round in the flame of a
candle, and they will eafily feparate.
Vin. Before you fix the loop of brittle to your hook,
in order to make a fly, to prevent its drawing, be fure
to
, ii8 APPENDIX.
to finge the ends of it in the flame of a candle ; do the
fame by the hair^ to which at any time you whip a
hook.
IX. Make flies in warm weather only ; for in cold
your waxed 6ik fiill not draw.
X. In rainy weather, or when the (eafon for filhing
is over, repair whatever damage your tackle has fuf-
fained.
XI. Never regard what bunglers «ad flovens teH you ;
but believe that neatnefs in your tackle, and t nice and
curious hand in all your work, efpectally in fly-making,
are abfolutely necefiary^
XII. Never fifh in any water that is not common,
without leave of the owner, which is fcldom dented to
any But thofe who do not deferve it.
XIII. If at any time you happen to be overheated
ivith -walking, or other cxercife, avoid fmall liquors,
efpectally water, as you would poifon ; and rather take
a glafs of rum or brandy ; the inftantaneous efFeds
whereof, in cooling the body, and quenching drought,
are amazing.
XIV. And laftly, Remember that the wit and iri-
'vention of mankind were beflowed for other purpofes
than to deceive filly fifh ; and that however delightful
angling may have been made to appear, by the fore-
going pages, it ceafes to be innocent when ufed other*
-wife than as a mete recreation.
INDEX.
i
f
I N D E X.
■3{ate, Thiit the figures after the letter N. refer to rhe
Notes, and thofe after the aumcrals, II. to tl^
Second Part.
A.
^LFREX) tit GriMl, tfem ohJ dhiUei thirivtr
n Lm, N. 275. — bis chaVeSir, ibid.
' Angtiag, in aittiquily, %-^.^lht frelft sf, 2;.
^ — altoviii hj ibi Catrea Lmn to tbi Clfrgy,
^.—-vAtb a natural Fly, i >o. — •aiib mi
artificial Fly, 108 — roi/A Cadi», II. 87,
; <^-^mtbtt Minnow, 93. N. 203, ^69. — luith m Rnnning-
liine, 92. II. %^.—^iib « Ledger-Bait, 163.— vjjf& 4
Fioat, N. 263. 11. 86.
Ja^er, bii jualifieatiani, i^.^-vibat ta it Jumijbed •with,
: N. 2S3. ■
Am'i-Eggi, a iflrV/erRoach, N. 249.
Ant-Fly, lahinfoani, 245.
Afti-Fly, Oak-FIy. Woodcock-Fly, CannonFIy,«»^Dowa-
HillFly, the /anu, N. iii.—baw fraduetd, and tubirt
Jiuid, ibid.
AOt Grub, II. 87.
-A«HUoLa, Afr, Eliat, actottate/bim, N. 29.
BACON, Sir Vtanzit, bii apinitn, ibal Cup livi tul ttn
yteri, ttnlradiSid, 179, N. 281.
Baiti, nulbeds ef iifcifuiring tiibat Jifo take, N. 2ji.
Barbel, Bbftrvatitm em, and bo'ui to Jtfli fir, 2 1 5 <— f^AU's f/*,
foifineui, 217.
Jivge-Sail ^fi/ar Dabbing, N. 1 13.
Barker,
I
Iakker, Mr. Thomas, an old Aftgkrt ^^ tvriUron j/n^Z
iimtt loS,—*^taiiMS from inm, N. 108, z^iif^notatU
Jlorj 9f bis Jijbing in tbi migbi, N. loS. --^/fecimens of bit
"^ foitrj^ N. 119, 168.
Beggars, a gang of ^ dtbatt afubtil queftion^ 130.
fit£op Filh, firango account of from Rondeletias, N. ja.
Book, to contain mattrlak for Fly makings defer ibed^ N. iii;.
Boots andSboes^ bow to preftrvo from wot, N. 253.
Breaffl> obfirvations on, andbow^ff^for, 186.
C.
CADIS, tp^^'-wbertfonnd, 260.— -j»r excellent metbod
to keep, N. z^%,^tbe nature of but little underfiood,
N.262.
Cadis-Fly, noetbe May-Fly, as generally fuppofed, N. 70,
Carp, objer^mtions on^ and bow to fifbfor^ 172. — tbetrferti-^
iity^ Xf^. '^longevity f 179. N. 281.— «^Srva/Mffi mr tbe
breeding of 180. — bow to drefs, 185.
Cafting, «r Tbrowingt £reiSioMsfor, IL 33.
Char, a local M, 214.
Chavncy, ^ir Henry, bis account of tbe rife of tbe Thames,
N. 272.
Chob, 0r CheviD, obfervatiom on, and bow to fifh for^ ^3;
N. 264.
CoKe, liry, bis judgment on tbe queftion, WbeAer it U4arceny
to takefifb out of ponds, 11. X07.
Co R I ATE, Tom, a great traveller, account of IL N. 18.
CoxTON, Chailcs, ^w» to be tbe ad^ted fon of Walton,
II. N. 5,— tf wVw of bis Fifbing'boufi^ taken en tbe ^t,
II. 25,
Cracians, afinall poni-fif^, N. tSj,
Cuckoo-fpit, tbe Nidos of tbe Grafshopper, N. 66.
. CutUe/ifb, account of , 33.
D.
DACE* obfervatioHS on, and bowa *of/bfor, 241 >■■ Aiw
/^yjii y^r ot'/Vift A Gnat or Grafshopper, N. 250.—
bow to broil, N. 25?.
,D£aHAii, I>r. bis account of tbe produSion of tbo Oak Fiy,
N. 122. — bis account of tbe fvueral kinds of Fhryganel, or
Cadews, N 259.
Dvrbyihire, abounds with Tro^t-ri'vers, II. 5,
Dibbing, or Daping, 122. 11.30,65,
Dife^lioBs,
I N I> B X,
•
— ^ ptaking a F/j, 111. II. 35 .—^^r making t%e Paltijf*
•worm, II. N. 52.
l^ONNB, Dr. 'Virfisofhii^ 201.
Dove, /^« nv/r hit^wttn Derb/Ihire Aff^ StaffbrdyBitre, 1 7, 37.
Drayton I Michael* ^i de/crtption of tif Salmon*liap in
/be ri'Ver Tivj in l^tmhrokedure, 147.— iW/ defcriftion of
the principal ni'vers in this kingdom, 273.
..; e/
ECLOGUE pifiatoryy a fpteies of poitry rtcommendidp
N. 234.
£c]« ohfimfatiens ou^ and hcfw ufijhfor^ 204.—- ^tfov to drefi^
zto.'^a wviparous, not an oviparous fjb, N. 212.
KAHiDCytfr tnvijiing lims defiribed^ N. 287.
£pnein€ron« account offrgm Swaramerdam, N. 97.
F.
FEATHERS^ thi fe^irat kinds of ufed in Ffy-making,
N. 114.
Fiih bave tbeftnfe of hearings i^S.'^giniraU like otber^animais^
N. 160, 204. — tbeir docility ^ 136, 137. •
-Flfb-pondsy bow toorder^ 278.
FilhiDg-honfe, Mr, CottonV^ defcribed, |L 25.— a wVw tf/*
it takin on thefpot^ ibid.
Fletcher, ilfr. Phmeas^ «rrtf«ff/ £/^ and quotations from
bim, 233, 234, 235.
Flies, natural^ bonv to angle ivitb, 120.— Ant-FIy, ivberf
found, and bow pre/erved^ 245.— -Cadis -Fi^, not ibe May
tly^ N. 70.— Green- Drake, II. 63. — G rey -Drake, dv^A*
dtrful account of N. 98.-— Hawthors-F^, nubere found, 1 2 1»
•— May-JF^, iwu /o ^// w///& /^r dibhing^ II. 65. — Qak<*
Fly, lubere found, 120. — Stot^t-Fly de/cribed, II. 68.
Flies* artificial, ibi making by tbe Angler bimfelf recommended^
II. N. 40.
Flies, artificial, materials for making enumerated, 1 1 z^'-^how
to make, II. 35.
Flies, artificial, defcription of various kinds, njoitb direSions
for making tbtm, II. 49. — bow to keep, N. II. yS^-^bow (a
angle nvitb, II; 29.
Float- Angling, N. 263.
Ploander, 214.
Fryar Fiih, ftrange fiory of from Rondclciius, N. 32. ''
Frogs,
I i»'if ft »
. • • • • , —*
f}(0%tt wndirfktty fyfimmd^ 68. — thiir eiifhlij to ih Pike/
t6l,'''''h§i0 ioiait tuiit, 1 66.
Farn, lii/ivtral/oris of^ nfidfmr daiUng^ N. 1 14. -'.
GAVy ilfr. Joliiit m^dniUr^ N. t^g.'^fuoiation/romM
foiMf iniiiUd^ Rormi Sports, i^/id
GaliSy MtApighV s MeoMMt of f^dr^ormaiion, N. 121.
Generatioa, tfuhvotal or /fowUumomt^ the diHrintof^ expUded^
N. 96. * - -
Centres, how to bmd^ 246.
Gold-Fi(h di/cribid, N. 267.
Graves, ^o^i; to hi ufidfor Ground halt ^ N. 2i9.
Groand-Baity^ Bream ««/ Carp, i90.-^Barber, N« t\%^
'■^for Roach und Dace, N. 25 1 .
Grafs, Indian, ho^ to order and keep^ N. aSp.
Grafshopper, 'whtro founds N» 66. ' ■ ■ how to pr$fer*oi^
N. 25>." ■ om ixcolhnt bait thrown as- Mm otrt^did fy^
N. 250.
Grayling, if UmbcTj ohforwitioiu #», 4nri/ how $0 Jip -fit^
* 146.
Green -Drake, Ins hi/tory^ IT. 63,
Grey -Drake, wondopfid actomnt of^ N. oS.
Grub, an excellent IVinter-hait^ how tofitdg 24^.
Gudgeon, oh/er*yationi on^ andhowtofififfor^ %%%•
Goiniad, ararefiflf^ 215,
Gypfiea, a gong of^ differ about thi eSviJm of their too^g
129.
H*
HACKLE, a;£^PALMEa.
Hackle- Feathers, how to get, N. 114.
Hair, hofw to.chu/e, iS^.'^'hovf to dje^ 288.
Hair, fingle, the ufi of it in Angling recommended^ N. 28^.
Hakewill, Dr. account of his book on Providence^ N. lyt*
Hampftiire, famous for Trout -r/iw/, 135.
Hawking, the fraije of 7.
Hawtborn-FIy, where founds I2i.
Hazle, for r%ds and tops, nvhen to cut, N. 284.
Hog -Wool, excellent dubbing, N. 112.-
Hooks,y^r trolling «ir^ fnapping, of a new invention, Jt.ijt^
175. — method of whipping, N. 255— '/Af/i^Kirb/ excels
lent for their Jbape and temper^ ibid.
Horfe-
index;
Herie-leechFIy, taieti By tbt Salmon^ N, 156.*— iStfoc; to maiH
ibid. . '
liontiogt thefrmfiof^ 14.
L
JAMES thefirfi a great enemy to Toiacco, IT. N. 2 1 .
Indian 0r Sen Grafs, the ufi of it recommended^ N. 289.
Johnson, Bbn, a paffage in his SilcDt^Woman explained ^
N, 237. ^. .
Isabella, Infanta of Spaioi an inftance of her fuperfiition^
II,N,s6.
KIRBY, account of him and Us hooks ^ N. 2^^, '•^taught
to temper them by Frince Rupert, ibid.
L. .
LAMPREYS, 212.
Lanearb, Nicholas, a fong of his eompofing^ 126.
Larceny cannot be committed of fjS at large in ponds ^ 11. loS*
Laft-Spring, a f/h/o called, defcribedf N. 143. N. 153.
La WES, Henry, a fong of his compofing^ .z'ifi.
Leland, his account of the rife of the Thames, N. 271,
Lemery, his definition of the Rofi Crucian Philofopiy,
N. 248.
Lines, ho^u/ to make^ 286. — ho^u) to fwifi *with an engine^
N. zSy.—firFly'fiJhing, N. 288.— /tf^ Floni-ffiing, N.-
263.— 3/or trolliog, N. I'^z.'^fof fnapping, N. 174.—:/^^,
laying, N. 213.
Line- Cafes, their t^efulnefs^ andhow tomake^ N. 254.
Loach, 266.— i^0^ to he ufed as a bait, 94.
Londoners, excellent Roach- anglers, 243.
Loops, the ufe of infiy-making, recommended, IF. N, 76.
M.
MA L P I G H I, ^// difo^eryof the produaion of the Oak-
F/y. N. 191.
Maris^ham, Gervafe, the qualifications required by him in an
Angler^ N 22.
Marlow, Kir, afongofhisy 76.
Martcn's-Furr, the bejl of yellonjo dubbing, N. 115.
May- Fly, 70. N, c^-j ^-^fe'vertd fiies contend for that title ^
II. 60.
Millcr's-Thumb, 267.
.6 Milton,
INDEX.
MitroN, John» andbu/mthir^ wrj^lfultnMitfick^ N. zyjl
Muinow, hww to bait noitb im mngling for a largi Troat, 93 »
269 — bouo to migk witb/or Pikc, N. 176.— i^ow to angU
nuitb/or Pcarcli, N. 203*
Minnow-Ttiifiefy bow to wtait, 265.
Mo N T A I G N B 9 bis ofoUgyfoT fk^9g nmtb bit Caff 5 «
Muiick, botter unJirfiood^ and in greattr firfo&ion^ formirfy
tboM MOW, N. 238.
N
N. ^ . '
IGHT-AngUng cm/w'td, N. 154.
NowBLL» Dr.DoojtofSt.FtLuVjt tm Angler ^ accotnte
of bim, 40.
O.
OA K- Applci^ tbe Nidos ^ /Ar Oak^ in its 'Vimacutar
fiate, N. 121.
Oak Ply, nnbirt found Hfibtn at maturity^ I20*
Oils to allure fijh, x^x^ \ ^2 j-^tbe efficacy of tbem donbt/ul^
248. II. 90.
Ottcriy great deftr^s offjb, 48.
Otter-hnntipg, tbe manner of it^ 47.
P.
PALMER, 0r Pilffrim-Worm^ bis biftory, lot.
Palmer, artificial^ bow to make, II. N. 52.— -atfotfr /^
be made ^*itb nMfingSf ibid.
Paftei, /i9r Carp, 182.— y^ Bream, 188.-^ Tench, .196.
— ^/9r Roach a«i/ Dace, 244. N. 249.
Pearch, oh/erTafions on^ anddireBionsbiwtofi^for, 197*
Pigeons jf//^ to convey intelligence hetvoein armies^ 10.
Pise, obfernnuions on, and diredions bovj to fifbfor^ '$^-"^
bis hngrvityy t^S.^-'/urfrizing infiances of bis voracioufneyi,
157, 158 . — bew taken witb a Minnow, i j6.
Pike- Pool in tbe river Dove, a view tboreof taken on tbe /pot ^
II. 25.
Pope, «r RafFe, objervations on, and bow to fiflf for^ 223.
Property, Mr,hoz\i€'snotionofitt II. lOl.
Purple Ifland, afimfoem^ qnotations from it, 233^ 234.
o
UEEN Elizabeth, tei'wi/i, 77.
RALEIGH.
INDEX.
R.
kA L E I G H, Sir Walter, his anfwer to the MHimiii^s
fifig, 78.
Ray» Mr. John, ohftr*vatiott 0/ his on the wtigration of ffi^
145. — his opinion about the raining of Frogs. 165.
Rivers, Juhterrantous^ zi't- 28. — -ftrange froferties of^ 27»«-^
a caution ahout tbtir nanus , II. 15.
Roach, oh/emtations on, and ho<uJ to f^ for, 241.— /ar^^,
,. caught at London-Bridge, 242*— A01U to hroil^ N. 252.
Rods, how to makri N. 284. II. jL-^^i^^av to mend tvhett
hroien, N. 254.
Rod, afjhfo ckUed, 242.
Ruffe, or Pope, objer'vations om^ and ho*w tofljhfor^ 223.
Rupert, Prince, taught Kirby to temper his hooks, N. 255.-^
. the inventor infcrajing in Mezzotintb, ibid.
l^\i\e%f general and cautions^ II. 127.
Ruoniog Line^ how iomake, N. 92.— iVj ufe^ ibid.
S.
SALMON, ohfervatioHs on, and hcnju tofijhfor, I44.«
Salmon -Spa^n, ah excellent hait, N. 251. — how to pre*
fir*ve, 252.
Salmon Leap, in the river Tivy in Pcmbrokefhire defcrihi^^
147.
SealVFttrr, excellent for dubbing; N. J13.
Severn, its head and courfe, zfz.
Silk- Worm-Got, theufeef N. 288.
Silver-FiOi dejtrihed, N. 267. . -
Sheldon, Archtijhop^ a great Angler for Ulnoier and Bar-
bel, 219.
Smelts, great numbers of caught in the Thames, N, 214.
Snap Anglings varions methods of N. 174.
Songs, the Miik-maid^i, 76. — ^r Mother*^, 78.— Cory don'/,
83. — the Angler'/, 86. — KennaV, with the /wJ^ri,.i26.—
/i&^ Beggar'/, 1 3 1 .— PifcatorV, 227. — the Angler'/, with
. the tnuficky in t*U>o parts, 236.
Siarling's Feathers, tike bef for wings, N. 115.
Swallows caught with a rod afid line, 225.
T.
TACKLE, what the JngUr Jh§uld he fumiJBed witt;,
N. 253.
Tench, ob/ervations on, and hovo to fjh for, 194.— Rondele-
tiasr'i account of a ftrange cure performed at Rooie, by ihi
outward application of a Tench, 1 9 j .
K k Thameii
INDEX.
yhamzs, /// head and (ourfe^ 270. — tht common of inion pf it
rife refuted, N. 271.
Thorroclc Truckle, or Coble, /// ufe i^ fom^ countria^
Tobacco, KJffg' Junius thefirfi a gnat enemy /d i/, II. N. 21.
Tr adescant, Mr. John, accouni of him and Ins ivife, N . 29.
Trent, its hfad and CQurfe^ 2j2n II. 13*
'y*rout, of-fernjatiom en, and hyw to fjb for, 64. — flrahge kind
of, at Sordid jre, near Canterbury, 66.— ^p'lf /• ^9gl^ fyf
<u77i& « M to QO%v 0r Loach. g^.'-^hoMQ 40 drefs^ IL Si*
Trolling, various 'ways of , N. 171. <
Toikcy-Carpet affords good dubbings K.' 113.
V.
\7 E R v^ E S, of Mr, Herbert, 30, izi.^^from Dh 6arta>,
3*» 34' 35» 102.— /j Sir Hen. Wotton, 43, 298,
300. — by Jo Davoff, 44 — by Mr. Barker, N. 119, 167.
from Martial, i^Z.^rfrom DraytonV Polyolbion, 147.
from hit Sonnets, z-jy-^from the Secrets of Angling*
N. 152 — by Dr^ ponne, 201. — from the Purple liland o^
Pbineas /letcher, 233 ^^from his Pifcatory Eclogne^^
K. ii^.'^^from Waller, 239.— yrfl« W/* Qay, N. 239.
ymbcr, *vide Gra/Ung.
W.
WALLER, Mr, Ednriund, a hwer of the erngk, 2351,
Water Kr.ot, hcnv to tie, f^. 255.
Winch, i/i jk/^/v Salmon tfWTroot^^/ni^i N. 139.
Worn; 8, hoiv to order,' hep, andfrcur, gi .^—'ho^v to bait <withi
m/ing/e one, gi.^^how to bait ^uaith t«u;o, 93. II. 84.
Worm, 89. — Brandling, ibid. — Dew, Lob, Garden or Twa-
chel, honv t€ get, N. 90 -^Dock or Flag, huov to find, ibid,
—Gilt-Tail, 89 — Marfh t^r Meadow, N. 90. — Oak, ibid!
— Palmpr, 95. — Red, ho^-w to find ^ 188. — 'Tag-iail Aw*;-
to find, N. 90.
Worm fifhing, 89. — at top ^ 134 II. 83-
Worded and CiC^cl, oijehiin agdinfl the v/e of them for
duhhifig, N.I 13.
VVoTTON^ i/> Henry, an Angler, ^z.^-^Verfes by him, 43^
298, 3C0.
Wve, a ri'ver in Here ford (hi re, in hettA and courfe^ II.
N. 15. .....
y.
•^r OR K Tfaimtune^ compo/ed hjf MiI:onV/a/^/r^ N. 237^
F I TST I Sj
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THE NBW YORK PUBUC UBRARY
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This book it wndor no oiromnstaiMo* to be
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